STUTTGART, June 17, 2023
Frances Tiafoe of the United States and home favourite Jan-Lennard Struff will compete in Sunday’s singles final of the BOSS Open in Stuttgart. On a sunny Saturday at the Tennis Club Weissenhof and in front of a packed Center Court, including German tennis legend Boris Becker, Tiafoe stopped this week’s grass-court run of Hungarian qualifier Marton Fucsovics, winning 6-3, 7-6(11) in the opening semi-finals match.
Tiafoe withstood 14 aces from the 2010 Wimbledon Boys’ champion, saved six set points in the tie-break of the second set and won 52 per cent of the total points played to secure victory in one hour and 35 minutes.
First grass final 🙌@FTiafoe saves 6 set points in the second set before defeating Fucsovics to reach the #BOSSOPEN final pic.twitter.com/Nwe33xqo2P
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 17, 2023
“Not a bad way to start the day,” Tiafoe told Daniela Hantuchova during his post-match on-court interview. “Crazy match, crazy second set. I am just happy to get through.”
Basketball fan Tiafoe, who competed in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in February, met the media wearing a jersey of this game in Friday’s press conference following his triumph over #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
“Quite the best weekend of my life!”
Frances Tiafoe 🇺🇸 wearing his NBA Celebrity All Star Game jersey after reaching the @boss__open semi-finals.
📸: Florian Heer#ATPTour #Stuttgart pic.twitter.com/s6bXiNLcw1
— TennisTourTalk (@TennisTourTalk) June 17, 2023
“This was the best weekend of my life,” said Tiafoe and explained what he told his management last year: “My goal in life is to go to an All-Star game. If you get me there, you’re the best agent in the world. I don’t care if you get me any endorsement deal, as long as you get me to this weekend.”
Struff outlasts Hurkacz
Later in the afternoon, Struff rallied past No. 4 seed and 2022 Halle champion Hubert Hurkacz from Poland 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. The 33-year-old German overcame a bumpy start, capitalized on three of his five break-point chances to advance in one hour and 26 minutes.
Second final on home soil 🇩🇪@Struffitennis defeats Hurkacz 3-6 6-3 6-3 to reach his 3rd ATP Tour final!#BOSSOPEN pic.twitter.com/DVycM4Hf88
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 17, 2023
“I am very happy, he is an incredible player. I knew that I had to play a very good match,” Struff said. “I didn’t start well but I found a way into the match. The atmosphere was crazy again. Thanks for the support. It means a lot to play my third final and second in Germany. The last one took place without a crowd during Covid in Munich and I am looking forward to tomorrow’s match.”
Tiafoe, who is making his debut in Stuttgart, will appear in his seventh ATP Tour career final, his first on grass and is seeking his third tour-level crown tomorrow. After six title wins on the Challenger Circuit, Struff could lift his maiden trophy on the ATP Tour. The Warstein native will play his third tour-level final, his second of the season after finishing runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz at the Mutua Madrid Open last month. The head-to-head series between the two finalists is tied at 1-1.
Sunday’s action will kick off with the doubles final when second-seeded Croatians Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic will take on fourth favourites Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz of Germany. The match is scheduled for 12 noon local time.
The results of the day⁰⁰#BOSSOPEN #atptour #atp #stuttgart #tennis pic.twitter.com/UUYtT8E72x
— BOSS OPEN (@boss__open) June 17, 2023
