With "hot" tips from Zverev: Jan-Lennard Struff wants to topple record hunter Djokovic
The hot duel against Novak Djokovic awaits Jan-Lennard Struff on Monday night - and "Struffi" wanted to get a few tips beforehand.
by SID / Red.
last edit: Jul 25, 2021, 03:04 pm
Jan-Lennard Struff was complaining about the stifling heat in Tokyo and therefore wanted a match against Dominator Novak Djokovic in the evening - Alexander Zverev interrupted him immediately. "The day is better for you," he advised. After all, the Serb had already proven at the Australian Open that he was almost unbeatable at night. And Struff took note of this key to success with a smile: "As you can hear, I still need a few tips from Sascha."
After Zverev's sovereign eighth-finals in doubles on a strong Olympic opening day for the German tennis professionals, the delightful second-round duel with Djokovic immediately came to the fore for Struff. On Monday (4th match after 4 a.m. CEST) he wants to trip the world number one, who has already won the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon this year, in his hunt for the Golden Slam. Struff could actually need tips from Zverev: Zverev has already defeated Djokovic twice, Struff is still unsuccessful in five duels with the 20-time major winner and has only won one set so far.
"It won't necessarily be easier against Novak," said the 31-year-old, who had already shown strong form in the 6: 3, 6: 4 in the first round against the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro. After only a two-hour break, he followed up with Zverev with an impressive 6: 2, 7: 6 (7: 5) against the fifth-placed Poles Hubert Hurkacz / Lukasz Kubot, which made the medal dreams of the German top duo grow.
Zverev would rather play in the evening
"I don't play doubles to get in," said Zverev, who won the singles competition against Lu Yen-Hsun (Taiwan) on Sunday : "I play because I already see a medal chance for myself and Struffi. We want to still achieve a lot. "
Contrary to his advice to Struff, the world number five would prefer the evening for his upcoming matches - and not at temperatures above 30 degrees and high humidity. "I am a little surprised that we really play during the day," Zverev criticized the organizers: "The other sports that involve endurance and longer times all run in the evening."
But despite the uncomfortable conditions, the two-time French Open champion Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz had a great performance in doubles and Anna-Lena Friedsam, who succeeded them, ensured a good atmosphere at the German Tennis Association (DTB). Krawietz / Pütz gave the Argentines Facundo Bagnis / Diego Schwartzman no chance at 6: 2, 6: 1.
The duo from Coburg and Frankfurt / Main have great self-confidence. "Everyone is beatable," said Krawietz: "We have to call up our performance, then a lot is possible."