Stuttgart quarters - Struff d Pouille

Quarter final day in Stuttgart.

Mercedes Cup - an ATP 250 category tournament, on Grass, in Stuttgart, Germany, 10-16 June 2019.

Defending champion:

Roger Federer (1) who defeated Milos Raonic (7) 6-4 7-6(3)

Quarter finals

- Jan-Lennard Struff v wildcard Lucas Pouille 

The pair had met three times previously, all in 2017, with Pouille successful on each occasion. Twice on grass in Germany, once in Stuttgart. Those two losses were especially stinging for Struff as they were in front of his home nations crowd.

The Frenchman served first and began with a service winner. Struff replied with a forehand winner, and led briefly in the game before Pouille delivered an ace and two big serves after that for a comfortable hold.

A double fault failed to distract Struff, whose aces helped him level at 1-1.

For a second time, Pouille trailed 15-30, and once more he served his way out of danger. Struff contributed an overhead winner, a service winner, and a forehand winner in a love game. 2-2.

The pattern continued, and not once were the pair taken to deuce in eight games. In game nine, Pouille faced the first break points of the match, and saved two of them. One game point disappeared with a double fault, then a netted Pouille backhand brought up a third break chance. A backhand strayed long and Struff secured the break.

Serving at 5-4, a third love game was convincing, and the set belonged to Struff 6-4, an ace sealing it.

Pouille saved four break points in the third game of set two, and another in the fifth game. All the while, Struff was holding his serve with consummate ease. Again it was the ninth game where Pouille struck trouble.

A double fault and two unforced French errors donated three break points to Struff. Two were saved, but a shanked forehand from Pouille saw Struff ahead 5-4.

Pouille made it 30-30 after forcing a German forehand error, but he couldn’t stop Struff, whose second serve was huge into the body and produced match point. A forehand winner ended the match,

Jan-Lennard Struff was impressive, winning 6-4 6-4.

- Felix Auger-Aliassime (7) defeated qualifier Dustin Brown 7-6(3) 6-7(2) 7-6(2)

- Milos Raonic (6) defeated Márton Fucsovics 6-4 6-4

- Matteo Berrettini defeated Denis Kudla 6-3 6-3

Semi final match ups 

Felix Auger-Aliassime (7) v Milos Raonic (6)

Jan-Lennard Struff v Matteo Berrettini