Jan-Lennard Struff Eliminated by Casper Ruud 3:6, 3:6 in ATP Paris Masters Round of 16

The match took place Wednesday evening at the Rolex Paris Masters in Paris, with Struff and Ruud taking Center Court around 8:30 p.m. local time as the last match of the day. The start had been pushed back from 5 p.m. after Matteo Berrettini withdrew, according to Frankfurter Rundschau. In Germany, the tournament is broadcast by Sky Sport, and the match was available via Sky Go, WOW and Tennis TV, Frankfurter Rundschau reported.

Struff, 36, was outplayed from the start. Ruud, the 27-year-old Norwegian and former world No. 2, broke in the third service game of the German to lead 4-2 in the opening set and never looked back, Sportschau’s liveticker showed. Ruud needed just 64 minutes to close out the match, converting his first matchball with a backhand down the line when Struff was forced onto his second serve and played too passively.

The defeat came one day after Struff’s marathon 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) win over Argentina’s Thiago Agustín Tirante that lasted 2 hours and 23 minutes. “It was a brutal fight,” Struff said after converting his second matchball against Tirante, per Frankfurter Rundschau. Earlier in Paris, Struff had beaten France’s Arthur Gea 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung reported.

Third Round-of-16 Exit in Paris for Struff

The loss marked the third time Struff has fallen in the Paris round of 16, after 2016 and 2019, RP Online reported. Struff had entered the match as the only German left in the draw following world No. 1 Alexander Zverev’s second-round exit against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, Frankfurter Rundschau reported.

Struff’s Rise After Early Exit

Despite the early exit, Struff’s autumn form has been notable: he reached the final in Brussels and the semifinal in Basel, where he beat Novak Djokovic before falling in the last four, Frankfurter Rundschau reported. Sportschau’s liveticker listed Struff at No. 39 in the world before the match, and RP Online reported he is expected to climb to around No. 36 in Monday’s rankings.

Ruud Moves on to Face Borges in the Quarterfinals

Ruud, who beat Spain’s Rafael Jódar 6-3, 6-4 the day before, reached the Paris quarterfinals for only the second time, Sportschau reported. He will face Portugal’s Nuno Borges, whom Struff defeated 6-2, 6-3 in the Basel quarterfinals days earlier, Frankfurter Rundschau reported. RP Online described Ruud as appearing to be on the path back to his old strength after a series of injury problems.

Struff’s Paris Defeat: Key Questions Answered

• How long did the Struff-Ruud match last? Sixty-four minutes, according to Eurosport and RP Online — a stark contrast to Struff’s 2:23 marathon win over Tirante the previous day.
• Who was the last German remaining in Paris? Struff, after Alexander Zverev lost to Lorenzo Musetti in the second round, Frankfurter Rundschau reported.
• Where will Struff sit in Monday’s rankings? Around No. 36, up from his current No. 39, RP Online and Sportschau reported.
• Who does Ruud play next? Nuno Borges in the quarterfinals at the Paris Masters, Sportschau reported.

The Paris Masters runs through Nov. 8, with Ruud’s quarterfinal against Borges the next confirmed checkpoint in the draw.

More on this story: Zverev, Djokovic and Medvedev eliminated in Paris Masters opening matches · Rafa Jódar faces Casper Ruud in Paris Masters second round

More on Paris Masters: Novak Djokovic and Alex de Minaur Eliminated in Paris Masters Second Round, Ending ATP Finals Hopes · Nuno Borges Defeats Karen Khachanov to Reach Paris Masters Last 16 · Jakub Mensik Withdraws From Paris Masters Due to Head Injury