Friday, 19 January 2018

Federer finds Struff tough

Roger Federer (2) was not going to be fussed in his second round match with Jan-Lennard Struff, currently ranked 53, even though the German is coming off a successful 2017, making two semi finals and three quarter finals. He beat Tomas Berdych in Doha this year before falling to eventual winner Monfils.

Roger began as usual, breaking the serve of his opponent early, not quite as early as he would have liked, but in the fifth game, with a forehand winner.

Struff had saved a break point in his second service game and generally had played a good match to this point. 

Love games from both players and we arrived at Swiss 4-3.

Federer held for 5-3 then Struff impressed with a service game forcing the second seed into three errors and capping it off with an ace.

Despite a good set of tennis from the German, Roger served it out 6-4, managing two deuces in the process.

Set two was also competitive, Struff saving two break points in the third game but failing to avoid Federer breaking in the key seventh for 4-3.

The Swiss maestro proceeded to deliver a second set 6-4 to his bag of riches.

Set three, which is the final set of matches that Roger mostly plays, was the closest that he has been to defeat of any kind for awhile.

After both opened with love games, Struff survived three break points for 2-1 in a game lasting 14 points.

Then the unthinkable - a Swiss broken serve ! Three forced errors from Roger gave the break to Jan-Lennard on his second chance and he led 3-1.

At 40-30, and so close to consolidating his break, Struff served a double fault. Seeing a chance, Federer whipped in with forehand and backhand winners to break back. 2-3 and on serve.

Federer saved a break point and levelled at 3-3 before Struff served a love game for the lead once more.

Roger replied with the same and Struff surrendered just one point to bring up 5-4.

A double fault when serving at 5-5 had the German in strife at 15-40, but he saved those break points and then watched Federer easily serve the two into a tie break.

Struff opened the tie break with a double fault but an unforced error from Switzerland cancelled that. 

Two loose German forehands gave Federer 6-3 and three match points, the second of which was enough to catapult the defending champion into a third round match against Richard Gasquet. 

6-4 6-4 7-6(4)

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