Tennis at the US Open: “Did me tumble”: Struff mercilessly defeated by Djokovic

At the end of his New York adventure, Jan-Lennard Struff talked the abrupt end of his famous series of success. “Unfortunately, he already crushed me today,” admitted the 35-year-old after his significant defeat against the aging tennis exceptionist Novak Djokovic. With the 3: 6, 3: 6, 2: 6, the qualified sensation of the qualifier at the US Open was clearly out of reach. The last of six German individual participants at the beginning has also been eliminated.

After the impressions of the previous appearances of the two protagonists of this tennis evening, Struff had lost more clearly than expected. For the Sauerlander, the round of 16 in New York was still a success in a complicated season with just eleven victories before the US Open start.

“It was an incredible two weeks for me”

“If someone had told me that beforehand, I would have taken it directly, it was an incredible two weeks for me now. I didn’t expect that myself,” said Struff. “I worked hard and rewarded myself.”

Against Record Grand Slam winner Djokovic, at the unusual appearance in front of around 24,000 spectators at the Arthur Ashe stage, he no longer showed the rip-off that had previously awarded him. In his most important match at the US Open, the outsider did not hit so much, made six double errors even in crucial moments and acted too faulty.

Treatment break makes struff puzzled

Although the three-year-old world ranking seventh 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. He stretched his neck, but didn’t seem impaired. On the contrary. After more shaky appearances in the first rounds, Djokovic presented himself in a rising form.

“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.”

In the eighth duel with the Serbs, he had to give up for the eighth time. He could not enforce his aggressive game of sensational victories against the world ranking elevator Holger Rune and US audience love Frances Tiafoe. Only after a quick 0: 4 did he get back with the first game winnings. The support of the former football world champion and former Dortmund defender Mats Hummels in his box did not help the BVB fan.

“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. “I felt constant pressure. If I might have had a few balls that weren’t good, he used it mercilessly.”

Struff wants to score for Germany in the Davis Cup

Struff can comfort prize money with a gratifying end of his Grand Slam season and $ 400,000 (340,000 euros). Next, the Warsteiner will be hopeful for the German Davis Cup team, who wants to qualify for the Davis Cup final round in Tokyo on September 12th and 13th in Tokyo. Only the winner will play for the title from November 18 to 23 in the final week of the Nations competition.

The Serbian top star Djokovic, in turn, continues his hunt for the 25th Grand Slam title and the promotion to the sole record holder in front of the Australian Margaret Court with the quarter-finals. “Under no circumstances should you write it down,” said Struff.

On Tuesday, Djokovic wants to move into the semi-finals with a win against American Taylor Fritz. And make his daughter Tara at home on her 8th birthday. “She was not very happy that I was not at her birthday party. But I will try to win when I am already here,” said the former world rankings.