Jan Lennard Struff came back from 2-5 down in the first set to beat 2020 ATP Finals champion and world number 2 Danil Medvedev 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 at the NOVENTI Open in Halle.
Medvedev converted his second break point in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Struff broke back in the ninth game to draw level to 5-5. Struff saved one set point at 5-6 30-40 in the first set and closed out the tie-break 8-6 with a forehand volley winner.
Struff earned two breaks in the fourth and sixth games to take a 5-1 lead. Medvedev pulled one break back at deuce in the seventh game. Struff missed a match point with a volley winner, but he closed out the second set on his second match point at deuce in his next service game.
“This is the biggest win of my career and to do it here on home soil is very special. I live only one hour from here. He served for the first set at 6-5 and twice went for an ace on a second serve and I put returns in at 30-30 and 30-40. I then played a very good tie-break and at 5-1 up in the second set, I thought about being up 5-1 last week against Diego Schwartzman in the Roland Garros fourth round. I lost the set in the tie-break, after having seven set points, so it was definitely in my head. It’s not something you can get out of your head easily. Last time in Cincinnati at the 2019 Western and Southern Open, Medvedev killed me 6-2 6-1. It was really tough. I did not know how to play him. It is better to play himon grass rather than on courts. I have a good game for grass and I like to come in. The wins at Roland Garros definitely game me a confidence boost”, said Struff.
This year’s Dubai Duty Free Championships finalist Lloyd Harris broke one in each set in his 6-4 6-4 win over Gael Monfils after 68 minutes. Harris started the first set with an immediate break in the first game of the opening set. Monfils saved a break point to hold serve for 2-1 at deuce. Harris sealed the second set 6-4 with a break at love in the seventh game.
Kei Nishikori, who reached the semifinal in Halle in 2014 and 2015, edged past Ricardas Berankis 6-3 2-6 6-2 in 1 hour and 41 minutes. Nishikori will face Sebastian Korda, who won the Emilia Romagna Open in Parma beating Marco Cecchinato.
