Amidst cool, wet, and blustery circumstances in Munich, Jan-Lennard Struff used a powerful serving efficiency to defeat Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 6-4 to advance to the semifinals of the BMW Open.
In a match suspended a day by the climate, the 33-year-old native of Germany was the extra constant of the 2 gamers, higher navigating the difficult parts to return via with a straight units victory.
Feeling the help from his house crowd in Munich, Struff made the primary transfer of the match early within the opening set, hanging a clear forehand return winner to interrupt for a 3-1 lead. Whereas the Canadian was struggling to search out rhythm from the baseline, he did discover a temporary run of momentum, reeling off three consecutive video games to seize a 5-4 lead.
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Nevertheless, it was the veteran who held his composure within the late levels, breaking Auger-Aliassime to like at 5-all earlier than closing out the opener on his serve in 52 minutes.
A tepid begin to the second set left the Montreal native combating the scoreboard once more; he hit a pair of ill-timed unforced errors to offer his opponent the opening break.
At 7-5, 3-1, play was suspended for the night time as a result of wet climate and poor visibility. The disruption in play did little to vary the complexion of the match.
Resuming the match within the morning, Struff continued his agency maintain of the scoreboard, controlling play together with his potent serve and heavy groundstrokes. The veteran posted a powerful 78% first serve share, and surrendered simply six return factors via everything of the set.
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One ultimate punishing forehand groundstroke, that despatched the Canadian off steadiness, sealed the victory in 1 hour, 43 minutes. With the win, Struff advances to his first ATP semi-final of the season, the place he’s set to face world no. 12 Holger Rune of Denmark. He has additionally levelled his profession head-to-head with the Canadian at two match wins apiece.
In the meantime, within the wake of the loss, Auger-Aliassime’s season document now sits at 11-10. The 23-year-old will look to bounce again subsequent week on the Mutua Madrid Open, the place he reached the quarterfinals in 2022.
