Professional men's tennis tour - Following Zverev's pull-out, Struff experienced a promising debut in Stuttgart.
Full of good memories from last year's feelings, Jan-Lennard Struff plans to create an emotionally fulfilling tennis week in Stuttgart once more. Not long after the official announcement of French Open finalist Alexander Zverev's withdrawal, the Sauerlander made it to the second round of the grass event on Weissenhof. After a 7:6 (9:7), 6:3 victory against Italian outsider Flavio Cobolli, Struff advanced as one of the three German participants to the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
"It was unfortunate last year that it didn't work out in the back court; it was an outstanding final," shared Struff, who nearly won against the American pro Frances Tiafoe in 2023. "It's wonderful to be back on the court here. I'd, of course, like to play well again."
Three Germans strive for the quarterfinals
Struff's next rival will be the Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech on Thursday. The Schwarzwald natives Dominik Koepfer (against the Italian Lorenzo Musetti) and the Karlsruher Yannick Hanfmann (against defending champion Tiafoe) are also fighting for a quarterfinal spot on Wednesday. Both will start day three of the tourney on Center Court (at 11 a.m.) in pursuit of surprises.
The 34-year-old Struff was heavily favored in his first-round match against the 12-year-old Cobolli. In a mishap, he accidentally struck a ball girl with his serve at 5:5 during a service game. He instantly apologized, and the ball girl was temporarily replaced, but returned to the court soon after.
In the tiebreak, Struff had two double faults, one that was at match point, but still managed to secure a first-round win. He clinched the break at 2:0 in the second set and boasted a staggering 13 aces.
"The first set was challenging as he served well. It wasn't a visual treat, but that's how it sometimes works on grass," assessed Struff and thanked the spectators: "It wasn't breathtaking rallies; many quick points, but the support was fantastic."
Zverev's withdrawal "reasonable to a certain degree"
Sadly, tennis fans in Stuttgart won't have the best German tennis player Zverev this year. Just as predicted, the 27-year-old announced his planned involvement a few days after his lost French Open final.
"I've played a lot of tennis over the past few weeks and reached the final in Paris, where I battled through five grueling sets. I feel like my body isn't ready to transition from clay to grass right away," said the Hamburg native in the organizers' announcement of his withdrawal.
The shocking withdrawal of the German number one was "reasonable to some extent," said tournament director Edwin Weindorfer. "We anticipate welcoming Alexander Zverev back in Stuttgart again next year, in line with our long-term agreement."
ATP Tour calendar World ranking ATP Schedule MercedezCup Entrants Field Results
Read also:
Jan-Lennard Struff plans to recreate the emotional success he had in Stuttgart's tennis tournament last year, which is held in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Following Alexander Zverev's withdrawal, Struff reached the second round of the grass event on Weissenhof, defeating Italian player Flavio Cobolli with a score of 7:6 (9:7), 6:3. This event is part of the ATP Tour, an international tennis circuit.
Struff expressed his enthusiasm about being back on the Stuttgart lawn, hopeful for another successful tournament. Three other German players, including Dominik Koepfer, Yannick Hanfmann, and Jan-Lennard Struff himself, are looking to advance to the quarterfinals. Struff will face Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in the next round.
Germany is known for producing talented tennis players, such as Zverev and Warsteiner, a renowned German beer brand. In the series of games held in Stuttgart, spectators attend to watch the lawn tournament, cheering for their favorite players.
German tennis fans were disappointed to hear that Zverev, who recently reached the final of the French Open, would not be participating in this year's Stuttgart event. Zverev, acknowledging his physical exertion, decided to take a break before transitioning to grass courts.
Tournament director Edwin Weindorfer expressed understanding for Zverev's decision, looking forward to the German star's comeback in Stuttgart the following year. The ATP Tour, an international tennis calendar, also supports and manages this event, providing an opportunity for players to showcase their skills on a global stage.
