Jan-Lennard Struff writes tennis fairy tales in Madrid

Before the biggest game of his career, Jan-Lennard Struff makes himself comfortable in the cherished role of the underdog. “Of course it will be very difficult against Carlos now. I will do my best to win my first title,” he said, looking ahead to the final at the ATP Masters in Madrid on Sunday.

The duel with second in the world rankings, Alcaraz, will be “an absolute challenge,” explained Struff Sky. The 19-year-old Spaniard has “a complete game” and is “an incredible athlete”. The Warsteiner predicted that he would have to “work at full throttle”. But Struff’s spectacular flight to unimagined heights makes everything seem possible before the duel with the highly favored Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.

The story that the 33-year-old wrote in the past few days can be described as fairytale with a clear conscience. In short, it is: Struff clearly fails in qualifying, is given a second chance as a “lucky loser” due to cancellations and then marches unstoppably through the tournament. On the way to the first Masters final of his career, he throws top players like Stefanos Tsitsipas, fifth in the world rankings, out of the tournament.

“I’m just happy. It’s unbelievable and I never expected it,” said Struff after entering the final. Previously, he had thrown Aslan Karazew out of the tournament after a hard-fought match in the semifinals. The man who had already robbed him of all tournament dreams in qualifying.

Struff can replace Zverev as German number one

But things turned out differently. Struff wrote tennis history by being the first lucky loser to reach the final of a 1000 tournament. That’s why he is now advancing into previously unattainable spheres in the world rankings.

In January, the Warsteiner was still in 167th place in the ranking after a difficult previous season, on Monday 28th place beckons in the event of a final defeat. If Struff wins the title, he would even be 21st – and would replace the long untouchable Alexander Zverev as German number one.

With such a dizzying ascent, even Boris Becker runs out of superlatives: “Madness!!! Unbelievable, Struffi,” wrote the three-time Wimbledon winner on Instagram.

But now the ultimate challenge awaits Struff on Sunday (6.30 p.m. / Sky). Because Alcaraz, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Friday with a semi-final victory over Borna Coric and a huge cake on the court, is currently the most in-form tennis player in the world.

Alcaraz has a season record of 23:2

While the two Grand Slam record winners Rafael Nadal (Spain) and Novak Djokovic from Serbia are struggling with injuries, Alcaraz has a season record of 23: 2. The US Open winner has already won three titles this year – three more than Struff in his entire career.

“Carlitos” should also easily win over the fans in Madrid on Sunday. “It will be a hard piece of work. The atmosphere will probably be unbelievable. It will be awesome,” said Struff, who, in addition to his recent strong serves, also gives hope on the balance sheet, on Saturday Sky.

At the French Open 2021 he beat the then 18-year-old Alcaraz in three sets, a year later he had the Spaniard on the verge of defeat in Wimbledon before losing in five sets.