Jan-Lennard Struff (ATP 21) wants to prove his excellent form this season also in the emotional home ATP tournament in HalleWestphalia, at the 30th anniversary of the TERRA WORTMANN OPEN: “I feel good, am going into the tournament with confidence”, the 33 year-old from Warstein said ahead of his first performance against Roman Safiullin (ATP 99). Struff had lost the finals in Stuttgart in the tiebreak of the third set against American Frances Tiafoe, but still gained self-confidence: “It is a really good week on grass. I cannot accuse myself. Now full power ahead“, Struff said. „Tennis is like that. Blow by blow. You can’t dwell on what’s been“.
Struff, the ‚man of the hour‘in German men’s tennis this season, had had to fight some difficulties in his first years in Halle. “I was not a mature player on grass at the beginning. I really had to learn and grasp this special game“. His biggest coup so far was defeating world-class man Daniil Medvedev in the kick-off match of the ATP 500 competition. “The last three starts here were quite okay. I simply felt better than in the beginning here”, Struff said.
And, what does he, the world touring professional, say playing practically on his doorstep? “It’s a big thing. A performance which is unbelievable“, Struff said. „All who built this up deserve high respect. All of tennis Germany can be proud of this“.
