Google News
Frances Tiafoe claimed his third ATP title in Stuttgart following a thrilling 4,-6, 7-6, 7-6 victory over Jan-Lennard Struff. The American came from a set down and fended off a match point in the deciding tie break to emerge at the top and secure his top-10 debut on Monday.
Struff gave his best to lift his first ATP title at 33, squandering that match point in the closing stages and finishing runner-up. The German fired 28 aces and had only one loose service game. He defended three set points in that second set's tenth game and served well to keep the pressure on the other side.
Tiafoe was ready to take it, delivering bold strokes and more efficient tennis on the second serve to emerge as a deserved winner. Frances lost serve in the opener from the only break chance offered to his opponent and made no mistakes in the rest of the clash to complete ATP titles on each surface.
Both players made a furious start and reached 3-3 in 16 minutes.
Frances Tiafoe claimed his first grass-court ATP title in Stuttgart.
Struff found his range on the return in the seventh game and fired a forehand winner to grab a break and move in front.
The home favorite landed a service winner in the eighth game to confirm the break and gain a 5-3 advantage. Tiafoe reduced the deficit to 5-4 with an ace before Struff held at 30 in the next one to take the opener 6-4 in 29 minutes.
There was nothing to separate them in the second set's opening nine games, and Jan-Lennard served to stay in the set at 4-5. Frances attacked and created a set point. Struff denied it with a booming serve and squandered two game points before offering his opponent two more set points.
The German saved them with powerful serves and blasted an ace down the T line to lock the result at 5-5. The set went into a tie break, and Tiafoe was the only player on the court. The American moved 5-1 in front and landed a beautiful down the line winner for five set points.
Frances seized the first with an ace to wrap up the set and introduce a decider after an hour and 20 minutes. The servers were too strong in the final set, losing a couple of points in 12 games and introducing a deciding tie break.
They traded four consecutive mini-breaks and stayed neck and neck for more drama. Jan-Lennard denied a match point at 5-6 after an extended rally and landed a service winner for 7-6 and his match point. Frances saved it with a backhand down the line winner and wasted another match point at 8-7.
The American took a return point at 8-8 and converted the third match point after an excellent point at 9-8 to celebrate the title.