2 Responses to madrid23alcaraz_struff

1. Voo de Mar says:

   May 7, 2023 at 10:27 pm

   First edition of this event with a 96-draw

   Points won by each set: | 35-35, 30-37, 34-24 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   37 % Alcaraz – 34 of 91
   25 % Struff – 27 of 104

   Given the ranking of both players [2 vs 65], their achievements, and the fact Struff had won five tough matches in a row, everything could indicate easy money for the fresh 20-year-old Spaniard. Nevertheless their H2H gave the German reasons to be optimistic: two years ago when Alcaraz was just gathering valuable experiences, Struff defeated him easily at Roland Garros; last year when Alcaraz was already a Top 5 player, Struff almost eliminated him from Wimbledon (four points away to win 3-1)… In the 1st set the German, first ‘lucky loser’ finalist in history of Masters 1K, was serving poorly (two double faults already in the opening game), but he was good at the net & his forehand was fine, thus he caught a positive vibe which helped him to break Alcaraz at the beginning of the 2nd set. Playing very risky tennis, Struff had a break point at 1-all in the decider, but Alcaraz raced to a 4:1 lead, and won his last 15 points on serve. “Of course I wanted to go all the way to win today, but I would definitely say if someone told me two weeks ago you’re going to play the finals, I would take it,” Struff later added. “I’m proud of the way I played. I am proud of the way I presented myself today.” It’s pretty remarkable that it was just second ATP final in Struff’s career because he has defeated many Top 20 players over the years in “best of three” and “best of five” matches. He hasn’t got any weaknesses in his game.

   Alcaraz’s route to his 13th title:
   2 Emil Ruusuvuori 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
   3 Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 7-5
   4 Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2
   Q Karen Khachanov 6-4, 7-5
   S Borna Coric 6-4, 6-3
   W Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

   Serve & volley: Alcaraz 0, Struff 17/29
   

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   May 8, 2023 at 5:44 pm

   # Alcaraz’s first big title defense. He was the main favorite to the title, but had huge problems for 1.5 sets vs Ruusuvuori, he needed to save 5 break points trailing 2:3 in the 2nd set before establishing his supremacy over the Finn. A few factors contributed:
   – they met once before and Ruusuvuori won it 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 (Miami ’21)
   – Ruusuvuori had played in the first round while for Alcaraz it was the first match in Madrid changing conditions from Barcelona where the altitude is not an issue
   – Ruusuvouri has one of the highest coefficients of hitting the ground-strokes, and it reflected in that match (118 kph vs 110 kph for him)

   Alcaraz and Struff met on the same court one year later (fourth round), and the Spaniard won 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 earlier wasting a triple match point on serve at 5:3

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