Struff slips through a testing night to reach the US Open fourth round, delivering a performance that mixed grit with precise serving and nerve-punctured finishing touches.
The German veteran, Jan-Lennard Struff, overcame a painful moment when he served for the match at 5-3 in the opening two sets, letting three double faults creep in and briefly inviting doubt. He regrouped with renewed energy, found his rhythm again on serve, and closed out Frances Tiafoe in a dramatic deciding set, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6. The clinching points came on Struff’s big first serve, and he finally converted the moment when Tiafoe’s return fell into the net. The victory is a notable one for Struff, who has battled injury woes and had to come through qualifying to reach this stage, and it sets up a meeting with either Novak Djokovic or Cameron Norrie in the night session.
Struff’s ride to the fourth round has been hard-earned. He had to defend against pressure at various junctures—most memorably in the late stages of the third set, where a tie-break sealed the win. The win follows his recent run that included a prior victory over Rune in the tournament’s earlier rounds, underscoring his resilience and staying power at 35 years old.
On the same day, a number of other Big Apple stories unfolded. Jessica Pegula brushed aside Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 7-5 on Arthur Ashe, continuing her solid form as she advances toward the later rounds. On the men’s side, Ben Shelton’s campaign hit a painful snag when he retired with a shoulder issue against Adrian Mannarino in the fourth set, interrupting what had looked like a promising run for the American star-in-the-making.
Elsewhere, upsets and ongoing battles colored the outer courts. Cristina Bucsa fought back to defeat Elise Mertens in a gritty three-set battle, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, continuing a strong run of results for Bucsa as seeds fell around her. Marketa Vondrousova exacted revenge on Jasmine Paolini in a decisive second-set surge, winning 7-6, 6-1. And on the inner courts, Jiri Lehecka, the 20th seed, overcame Raphael Collignon to continue his solid Slam run, advancing to the fourth round.
On the big arena, Carlos Alcaraz’s quarter of the draw appeared to open up a touch after Jack Draper’s injury and Shelton’s retirement, with the 2022 champion’s path taking a slightly easier turn as the field reshapes under pressure. Alcaraz’s post-match reflections highlighted a knee tweak that he felt early on, but he recovered as the match progressed, finishing with a confident sense of focus.
There were also reflections and updates from other corners of the grounds. Emma Raducanu spoke candidly after her defeat to Elena Rybakina, acknowledging the difficulty of the contest and outlining a clear direction for continued improvement. Rinderknech pulled off a landmark breakthrough by reaching the fourth round, earning a last-16 meeting with Carlos Alcaraz, while other American stories continued to unfold, including Sonay Kartal, Katie Boulter, and others advancing in doubles and singles.
Looking ahead, Struff’s next test is a mouth-watering clash with one of the game’s biggest names, either Djokovic or Norrie, in what promises to be a high-stakes night session. Taylor Fritz was also in action later, aiming to end the day with a meaningful result for American hopes in this tournament.
Commentary and analysis:
– Struff’s performance embodies grit and endurance. Coming through qualifying, then delivering a gut-check win after a shaky stretch late in the match, shows a level of mental toughness that’s been a hallmark of his career.
– The day’s results illustrate how quickly a Grand Slam can shift: seeds fall, veterans press on, and American players in particular are chasing momentum as the second week approaches.
– Injuries and the physical grind remain a theme at this year’s Open, with Shelton’s shoulder issue underscoring the toll the tournament can take even on rising stars.
Summary:
Jan-Lennard Struff outlasted Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 to reach the US Open fourth round, collecting a crucial win after a rocky moment while serving for the match. He now faces a daunting opponent in Djokovic or Norrie. Across the grounds, Pegula maintained form by defeating Azarenka, while Shelton retired with a shoulder injury. Bucsa, Vondrousova, and Lehecka also secured spots in the fourth round, adding to a day of drama, upsets, and rising stories as the tournament moves toward the business end.
A hopeful takeaway:
Struff’s win reinforces the theme that experience and persistence can shine at the Slams, even against younger challengers and on tough nights. If he can carry this momentum into his next match, there’s real potential for another strong showing in this year’s event, and a reminder that the depth of the men’s game continues to deliver compelling, heart-stopping moments.