Jan-Lennard Struff returns to the top 30 in the world after almost three years due to his good performance in Madrid. That also helps him for the French Open.
Jan-Lennard Struff is not known for the big pithy sayings or for a lot of show and the absolute world class in tennis was also further away recently. But since he entered the finals at the ATP Masters in Madrid, at least the latter seems to be within reach again – even if he lost the final on Sunday. Nevertheless, the Warsteiner spoke afterwards of the “greatest success of his career”. He will need a few more days to realize that.
“If someone had told me two weeks ago that I would be in the final, I would have signed immediately,” said the 33-year-old. Two weeks ago, the situation looked different – he had only moved into the main draw in Madrid as a “lucky loser” due to cancellations by other professionals. But with grandiose performances, Struff not only convinced the fans in Spain, but also surprised the entire tennis world.
Struff strong since the beginning of the year
Because the 1.93 meter tall tennis pro has had a few average years. Above all, the past did not go according to Struff’s wishes. At the beginning of April he was still 60th in the global ranking, but then he fell further and further behind. Except for number 168 in October.
However, something has happened since the beginning of the year: Struff is injury-free and has his head full, in 2023 it will work for him. He returned to the top 100 in April, barely four weeks and a fantastic run later, to where he has only been once: the world top 30. According to ATP, he will be listed in 28th place from Monday (May 8th, 2023) – Struff has never been so high. In 2020 he was “only” 29. He is now six places behind the German number one, Alexander Zverev.
First seeded at the Grand Slam
There is something else important with this rise: he will be a seeded player for the first time in a Grand Slam tournament, the French Open, which begins at the end of May. The top 32 avoid each other in the first round. Self-confidence has also received a huge boost. So Struff goes to Paris with a lot of optimism: “That encourages me a lot for the next few weeks and months.”
Jan Lennard Struff at the French Open 2021
While the tennis elite are still at the Masters in Rome before Paris, the Warsteiner does not play there: “I should have qualified there on Monday, that wasn’t possible,” he explained and continued: “I’m now treating myself to two days off with family and will then realign with training.” Possibly to the next triumphal procession in Paris.
