Jan-Lennard Struff is causing quite a stir. © APA/afp / PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU

“It’s crazy”: A lucky loser amazes the tennis world

The German Jan-Lennard Struff continues to cause a sensation in Madrid. For the first time he is in the final of one of the most important tournaments. The currently best player in the world is waiting there.

06 May 2023

From: dpa/det

Jan-Lennard Struff, number 65 in the world, continued his impressive winning streak at the Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid and completely surprisingly reached the final. The 33-year-old tennis professional from Germany won his semi-final against the Russian Aslan Karatsev 4:6, 6:3, 6:4 on Friday evening and is in the final of a tennis tournament in the second highest category for the first time. Struff converted his fifth match point after 2:18 hours.

"It's crazy. I never expected that,” said Struff. In qualifying, Struff clearly lost in two sets against Karatsev. Only as a so-called lucky loser did he make it into the main field of the clay court event worth 8,796 million euros and took advantage of his chance. In the quarter-finals, Struff had already surprised with a win against the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas. Struff is the first lucky loser to reach the final of a Masters 1000 tournament.

In the final on Sunday he will face the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. The number one seeded top favorite clearly won his semi-final against Croatian Borna Coric 6:4, 6:3. “Of course it will be very difficult. But I'm looking forward to it and will try everything. Otherwise I have no chance,” said Struff.