STUTTGART/STARNBERG, June 11, 2024
Jan-Lennard Struff made a strong start at the BOSS Open in Stuttgart on Tuesday. Last year’s finalist defeated Flavio Cobolli of Italy 7-6(7), 6-3 in one hour and seven minutes. Struff’s next opponent on Thursday will be Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who won his opening match at the ATP 250 grass-court event against US-American Alex Michelsen in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5.
Clinical display from @Struffitennis 💪#BOSSOPEN pic.twitter.com/r0o9fjmtmP
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 11, 2024
“In the first set, we didn’t give anything away on our serve games. It wasn’t a spectacle, but that’s how it is on grass sometimes. After winning the tie-break in the first set, it was important to get an early break in the second. Then I could play from the front. It was a tough first match, and the crowd’s support was huge, even though there weren’t many spectacular rallies,” Struff said.
Matteo Berrettini emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle against Roman Safiullin of Russia. The 28-year-old Italian and two-time Stuttgart champion outlasted his eighth-seeded opponent in two hours and 55 minutes, winning 7-6(8), 5-7, 7-5. This victory improved Berrettini’s impressive match record at the Tennis Club Weissenhof to 10-1.
“I expected a tough match, and that’s exactly what it was. I haven’t played much in recent months and knew it wouldn’t be easy. I’m proud of how I fought through it today. It wasn’t my best level, but that’s what it’s all about: winning when you’re not playing your best,” said Berrettini, who will face Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the round of 16. Shapovalov defeated French qualifier Matteo Martineau 7-6(5), 7-5.
In contrast, Andy Murray‘s appearance in Stuttgart was brief. The 2022 Weissenhof finalist lost to US-American Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-4. “I had some chances but couldn’t break him. Physically, I feel okay after the injury in Miami. My ankle feels good, but I need to improve my game. The level on the tour is very high. I just have to play better if I want to win matches,” Murray said.
