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Jan-Lennard Struff, age 33, wins first career ATP singles title over Taylor Fritz in Munich

The German is the first home winner of the singles title since Alexander Zverev in 2018.

ByTENNIS.com

Published Apr 21, 2024

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The fourth time was the charm for 33-year-old Jan-Lennard Struff on Sunday at the BMW Open. The German defeated American Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-3 to win his first career ATP singles title, becoming the first home champion at the tournament in five years in the process.

Struff previously reached the final in Munich in 2021, losing to Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia. Last year, he reached two finals, first losing a three-setter to Carlos Alcaraz in Madrid as a lucky loser (the first lucky loser to ever get to a final at an ATP Masters 1000 event), and then failed to convert match point against Frances Tiafoe in a loss on grass in Stuttgart.

Set to turn 34 in just four days, Struff is the third-oldest first-time champion on the ATP since 1990.

“[It feels] unbelievable, and to do it on home soil is just incredible,” Struff said in his post-match interview, per the ATP. “I waited so long. I’m 33 years old and played so long on tour. It’s just an amazing feeling to do it here in Germany.”

The fourth-seeded Struff didn't lose a set en route to winning the title, with previous wins over Botic van de Zandschulp, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Holger Rune before Fritz. His semifinal upset of second-seeded Rune was notable in more ways than one, as his 6-2, 6-0 upset of the two-time defending champion lasted just 44 minutes.

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He came close to losing one against Frtiz, though. Struff saved three set points in the 10th game of the first set, eventually winning 11 points in a row to take the set after doing so. He broke the American to start the second set too, denying Fritz his eighth career title in the process. The former Top 10 player, now ranked No. 15, had won his last six finals dating back to his first ATP Masters 1000 win at Indian Wells in 2022, and was contesting his first-ever tour-level clay-court final.

Struff was going for a sweep of the singles and doubles titles later on Sunday, as he and his fellow German Andreas Mies were set to face India's Yuki Bhambri and France's Albano Olivetti in the doubles final.

"I played good tennis this week, I’m very happy. I beat good guys and I’m just unbelievably happy that I did it today," Struff added.