Jan-Lennard Struff should again become the trump of the German team in the difficult Davis Cup quarterfinals against Canada. He’s had an eventful year.
Jan-Lennard Struff has already experienced his personal highlight this year. “I became the father of a son for the second time in mid-October,” reported the 32-year-old before the start of an exciting Davis Cup week in Malaga: “Of course, that overshadows everything else.”
Also the sport and his job as a tennis pro, in which the past few months have not been easy. “The year was difficult for me, I didn’t play well, I was injured,” said Struff.
The Warsteiner has lost its longstanding status as the German number two for the time being and slipped out of the top 100 for the first time since 2016.
152nd place is currently behind his name and yet Struff should once again become a trump card for the German team in the difficult quarterfinals against title co-favorite Canada on Thursday (4:00 p.m. / ServusTV).
Because when things get down to business in the team, Struff can always call up his best tennis.
Zverev not there again against Canada
“This spirit pushes me even more. These are the coolest weeks of the year for me,” he said on the Spanish Mediterranean coast.
The fact that the team of national coach Michael Kohlmann is one of the top eight nations this year is not least due to Struff.
In the group phase in September in Hamburg, he won all three of his singles – and showed what he’s still capable of.
Against Canada with the two top 20 players Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, Oscar Otte, the German number one in the absence of Alexander Zverev, and Struff will start the race as outsiders.
“But we really don’t have to hide and believe in our chance,” said Struff: “Then we can also tear something against Canada.”
If it is possible to “steal” a win from the individuals, the chances of selection by the German Tennis Association (DTB) are suddenly excellent. There hasn’t been a double lost for 15 games and the duo Kevin Krawietz/Tim Pütz, who now also play together permanently on the tour, have shown strong nerves several times.