Last week, Jan-Lennard Struff was the best tennis player in Germany, ranked higher in the world than Alexander Zverev. The Warsteiner had already lost this prominent position at the beginning of the French Open, and he will not regain it on his own so quickly.
Thomas Klemm
Sports editor.
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At the most important clay court tournament in the world, Struff failed in the first round, lost to Jiri Lehecka in a wild match 5: 7, 6: 1, 3: 6, 6: 3 and 1: 6 on Monday evening. "That was disjointed by both," said Struff, who was seeded 21st in Paris and thus a bit higher than his Davis Cup colleague Zverev: "That I couldn't play my best tennis, It's frustrating and annoying."
"Such a defeat hurts"
Now there are certainly easier opening opponents than the 21-year-old Czech, who is as powerful as he is agile and is only thirteen places behind Struff in 41st place in the world rankings. But on better days, the 33-year-old German would have defeated his opponent with some probability. For example, on days like the other day in Madrid, when Struff played his way to the final of the Masters tournament, where he stood up to world number one Carlos Alcaraz for a long time and lost in three sets.
The 3:12 hours of playing time on the thankless 13th place of Roland Garros, on the other hand, was like a roller coaster ride that was a bit too steep for Struff. "He made it very difficult for me," said the Warsteiner about his defeat against the youngster.
Daniel Altmaier (6: 3, 6: 4, 6: 4 against the Swiss Marc-Andrea Hüsler) and Anna-Lena Friedsam (6: 3, 3: 6, 6: 4 against the Japanese Nao Hibino) were more successful in their opening hurdles. He has gained "stability", said the 24-year-old Altmaier, who reached the quarter-finals in Madrid earlier this month: "Every stroke I have to play on the tennis court feels pleasant."
Tatjana Maria couldn't say that about herself. The German, who lives in the USA and played in the Wimbledon semi-finals last year, prevented the very worst against the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, who was seeded 14th in Paris, by being able to take the serve from her quick-witted opponent at least once in the 0: 6, 1: 6 defeat shortly before the end of the game. "Such a defeat definitely hurts," said the 35-year-old, who is touring with her husband and two children.