12:43 p.m
Safiullin – Struff 1:5
Then Struff shoots sharply, serves better now. There’s the second ace. In the end, Safiullin screwed up another forehand. This is by far the fastest game. For the first time it goes to zero and the Warsteiner rushes to 5:1.
12:40 p.m
Safiullin – Struff 1:4
Safiullin has to go over the second, shortly thereafter misses a forehand and gives up his serve again. The way to winning the set is finally paved for the unseeded German with this 4:1.
12:39 p.m
Safiullin – Struff 1:3
However, Struff does not give up, drives the opponent into the forehand error and organizes another break opportunity.
12:38 p.m
Safiullin – Struff 1:3
Struff wants the break, is looking for the way forward. The forehand attack ball, however, does not succeed well enough. Safiullin has time for the forehand longline. This passing ball fits perfectly.
12:37 p.m
Safiullin – Struff 1:3
And Safiullin fails more and more without need, his backhand is too late. This gives his opponent another breakball.
12:36
Safiullin – Struff 1:3
It’s currently stuck, the level of the match is falling. The constant profit blows as in the initial phase can no longer be seen.
12:34
Safiullin – Struff 1:3
In the end, Struff made two points in a row and ultimately took the game to his side, claiming the break and leading 3-1.
12:33 p.m
Safiullin – Struff 1:2
When it comes to the serves, it doesn’t fit on both sides yet. The quotas for Safiullin are all at a maximum of 50 percent. This is definitely expandable. The German serves a little better, but still not good enough. That’s one of the reasons why Struff is now torturing himself again about the debut.
12:31
Safiullin – Struff 1:2
In a match with few errors so far, Safiullin is starting to blunder more often. Standing wide in the field, the number 99 in the world unnecessarily misses a forehand. This is his sixth unforced error, Struff has two.
12:28
Safiullin – Struff 1:2
After that, however, Safiullin gives up his service with a double fault. The German gladly accepts this gift and takes a 2-1 lead.
12:27
Safiullin – Struff 1:1
The Russian also bravely defended himself, looking for a way to the net. But the attacking ball is enough to force Struff’s backhand error.
12:26
Safiullin – Struff 1:1
Shortly thereafter, Safiullin gets a forehand a little too long. Suddenly the first two balls are ready for Struff.
12:25
Safiullin – Struff 1:1
Now Safiullin makes the first double mistake. Unfazed by this, the 25-year-old pulls his backhand down the line wonderfully in the next rally.
12:24
Safiullin – Struff 1:1
A longer rally follows. Struff plays the backhand slice longline and thus provokes the opponent’s forehand error. This brings the game win to 1:1.
12:23
Safiullin – Struff 1:0
Struff goes offensive against it, catches the half-volley properly and fends off the break chance. Then the 33-year-old ignites his first ace.
12:22
Safiullin – Struff 1:0
Struff cannot use three game balls. Then the Wartseiner attacks and gets the ball played in front of his feet. The deep emergency volley is an invitation for Safiullin, who organizes a break ball.
12:21
Safiullin – Struff 1:0
And so the struggle for this second game is tough. Then Struff is lucky that an opponent’s net edge ball does not drip into his field.
12:20 p.m
Safiullin – Struff 1:0
Safiullin, on the other hand, knows how to please with a backhand return played cross. The match is already on a pretty good level, because Struff is already providing the next winning blow with a spotless forehand.
12:19
Safiullin – Struff 1:0
A little later, the Russian catches the German on the wrong foot with a backhand longline. 30 both! Struff reacts to this with a 211 km/h fast service winner.
12:18
Safiullin – Struff 1:0
Now Struff serves. Two points are quickly at hand. Afterwards, Safiullin countered an attack by the opponent with a cross ball.
12:16
Safiullin – Struff 1:0
As a result, Safiullin serves well, gets the third cue ball with his second ace and uses it because Struff is unable to return the next first in a controlled manner.
12:15 p.m
Safiullin 0-0 Struff
The German also fends off the Russian’s second ball – with an excellent forehand return.
12:15 p.m
Safiullin 0-0 Struff
The Russian qualifier doesn’t know how to use his ball because his opponent is putting pressure on him with his forehand. Then there is the longest rally so far, which Struff ends with a backhand into the net.
12:13
Safiullin 0-0 Struff
Then Struff shines with a cross played forehand. 0:30! Then there are a few mistakes in German. Safiullin manages the first ace of the match.
12:10 p.m
1 sentence
Safiullin has just opened the match and has to try the second serve. Nevertheless, the Russian then immediately looks for the way to the net and is passed by Struff with the backhand.
12:08 p.m
Head 2 Head
For the second time, both professionals face each other on the occasion of an official tennis match. The only meeting so far was in the qualification for the indoor tournament in Basel 2022. At that time, Safiullin prevailed 7:5 and 6:1.
12:04
Entry and coin toss
At this moment our protagonists enter the Center Court in the OWL ARENA. After a few steps of preparation, you meet with the French chair umpire Aurélie Tourte to vote at the net. The coin falls in favor of the German, who decides to hit back. Then both play a bit.
12:00 p.m
Also without a tournament win
Safiullin is currently 99th in the world rankings, but was 82nd in February. The 25-year-old is also still waiting for an ATP tournament win, but has not been in a final so far. This was only granted to him at Challenger level. And there the right-hander won all four of his finals – the last one in February in Koblenz. At a higher level, he only played three main draw matches this year at the Masters in Madrid and Rome due to the large starting fields there. After all, Safiullin was junior Australian Open winner in 2015.
11:51
Qualifier with debut in Halle
Safiullin is at the start of this grass tournament for the first time. The Russian first had to prove himself in qualifying, beating Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi and his compatriot Aslan Karatsev in two sets each.
11:42
Struff in Halle
In Halle, Westphalia, it never really worked for Struff over the years. Between 2009 and 2012, the right-hander failed the first qualifying hurdle three times. The German has been in the main draw for the tenth time since 2013, but suffered a defeat at the start seven times. He was only able to win one match in 2019 and 2021, which was enough for the round of 16. It never got any higher. In doubles, however, Struff was twice in the semifinals.
11:33
Still no title
Although Struff is currently playing better than probably never before in his career, he just doesn’t want to win the first tournament. The Warsteiner has reached three finals on the ATP tour and in 2021 at the 250 in Munich and this season at the Masters in Madrid and most recently at the Stuttgart Open. Therefore, there were only titles in doubles (three) or on the Challenger Tour (six).
11:24
Germany’s number 1
There are regular changes in the status of Germany’s currently best tennis player. Most recently, Alexander Zverev was just ahead, which also came into play when determining the seeding list for this 500 tournament. Therefore, after the withdrawal of Félix Auger-Aliassime, the Hamburg player slipped into the top 8 seeded players. Only then was the latest edition of the world rankings published, in which Struff appeared again in 21st place, immediately ahead of Zverev. The 33-year-old has never been better.
11:14
Welcome
Welcome to the Terra Wortmann Open! At the ATP tournament in Halle/Westphalia, a first round game is still open. Roman Safiullin and Jan-Lennard Struff will play against each other at 12:00 p.m. on Center Court.