Tennis at the US Open
“He pulled me up”: Struff without a chance against Djokovic
Jan-Lennard Struff had imagined it differently. He wants to demand Novak Djokovic in his biggest match at the US Open so far, but remains no chance. The tournament was still a success for him.
The record-Grand Slam winner was too strong for Jan-Lennard Struff: With a clear defeat against Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic, the German qualification at the US Open missed the hoped-for sensation and his quarter-final premiere at a Grand Slam tournament. Struff stayed without a chance at 3: 6, 3: 6, 2: 6 against the dominant favorite.
“Unfortunately, he already crushed me today,” said the 35-year-old after his most important match so far at the US Open. “He played an incredible level. I felt constant pressure. How it plays is just inspiring.”
Treatment break makes struff puzzled
Although the three-year-old world ranking southern Djokovic had physical problems again this time, he was treated in the neck and shoulder area and on the right-wing ravish after the first and second set. Nevertheless, the 24-time Grand Slam tournament winner showed a clear form in the first rounds of this year’s US Open. After only 1:49 hours, Djokovic ended his opponent’s best US Open tournament.
“Okay, what happens here now?” He thought when Djokovic let the physiotherapist come, Struff reported. “Then the next ball came back in and then I thought: Okay, all right, nothing is.”
“It was an incredible two weeks for me”
After several early defeats this season, the world rankings 144. The round of 16 of the US Open reaches from Warstein for the first time. “If someone had told me that beforehand, I would have taken it directly. It was an incredible two weeks for me now,” Struff summed up.
After leaving, none of the initially six German tennis professionals are still in the individual competitions of women and men. The world ranking third Alexander Zverev was surprisingly early from the tournament on Saturday in the third round.
The atmosphere in front of around 24,000 onlookers at Arthur Ashe Stadium – including the former soccer world champion Mats Hummels in his spectator box – was unusual for Struff. In contrast to the rounds before, the former top 30 player did not come to implement his aggressive game as hoped. The start failed with a quick 0: 4. Only then did the Davis Cup player come back with his first two game winnings.
“I didn’t hit my serves so well. That’s why I got a little restless because I noticed that I would make too much mistakes,” said Struff. “If I might have had a few balls that were not good, he used it mercilessly.”
Previously, Struff had caused a sensation with his appearances in Flushing Meadows. His victory over the world ranking elevator Holger Rune from Denmark in five sets was just as much a surprise as his following smooth success against US professional Frances Tiafoe.
For Djokovic, the record hunting continues
Struff also lost his eighth duel with Djokovic. The Serb, on the other hand, can continue to hope with the quarter-finals for a 25th Grand Slam title, with which he would rise to the sole record holder in front of the Australian Margaret Court.
“Of course I am satisfied with the performance,” said Djokovic. In the fight for reaching the semi-finals, the four-time US Open Champion will deal with the American Taylor Fritz on Tuesday.
dpa
Source: Stern
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