The number 1 defeats the crowd favourite

All good things come in threes - that's what world number one Jannik Sinner may have thought when he started his quarter-final match against Jan-Lennard Struff. Firstly because he had already won twice this year - in Indian Wells and Monte Carlo - in two sets against the Westphalian-born player, and secondly because he had won both of his previous matches at the 31st TERRA WORTMANN OPEN. It was a dramatic match, which Jannik Sinner won by the narrowest of margins 6:2, 6:7(1), 7:6(3).

It is not known whether it was due to the hot and humid weather - but Jannik Sinner was at operating temperature right from the start. In contrast to the first two matches on the grass in Halle, the newly crowned world number one was now playing much better. Jannik Sinner moved well, was mostly in the right position and forced Jan-Lennard Struff to make mistakes with powerful and well-placed shots. In his four service games in the first set, he only conceded three points to the German. He also won two of his seven break points. The result: 6:2 for the Italian after exactly half an hour.

And in the second set, Jannik Sinner also showed why he is currently the world number one in tennis. Brisk and aggressive, taking the balls early - the Italian continued to power through. As in the first set, Jan-Lennard Struff was on the verge of having to concede a break. 0:40 - but the Italian was unable to capitalise on these three break points and now "Struffi", as the people of Halle affectionately call him from his time in the Bundesliga with Blau-Weiss Halle, was also at operating temperature. He not only held his own, he fought, became braver and more confident. His coach Marvin Netuschil cheered him on and shouted instructions at him. Respect for the performance of Jan-Lennard Struff, who forced Jannik Sinner into a tie-break and then played almost outstandingly: 7:1 and thus set two to the German. "That's the tie-break, that's practically seven winning shots," said Sinner after the match.

Right at the start of the third round, Jannik Sinner again led 40:0 on Jan-Lennard Struff's serve. The German equalised, two more break chances followed, but once again the Italian failed to break. The world number one had a total of 18 break chances, of which he only managed to capitalise on two. "I was mentally strong today and didn't let the many missed chances rattle me," the winner later analysed. It was pure drama as the match went into another tie-break, this time with the better end for the Italian. All good things really do come in threes today.

Jannik Sinner didn't focus on his performance after the match, but praised Jan-Lennard Struff: "He played very well today, he's a great player. Many thanks to the crowd, who gave him great support but were always very fair. I'm looking forward to the semi-final here." Jannik Sinner - a true number 1.