Defending champion Jannik Sinner triumphed over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff with a score of 7–5, 7–6(5), 6–31 on Tuesday, advancing to the Wimbledon semifinals for an impressive third time.
In the warmth of the afternoon sun, the world No. 1 faced a formidable challenge from the 36-year-old German whose fierce serve and aggressive tactics kept Sinner on his toes throughout the match. Nevertheless, Sinner showcased remarkable composure during crucial moments, delivering a solid performance that secured him his 10th Grand Slam semifinal appearance.
Struff made history as the oldest first-time men’s Grand Slam quarterfinalist in the Open Era, firing off 12 aces and winning 80 percent of his first-serve points. He was also impressive at the net, winning 27 of his 38 approaches.
On the other hand, Sinner excelled on serve, racking up 16 aces and landing 65 percent of his first serves, winning an impressive 84 percent of those points. He also managed a solid 50 percent success rate on his second serves, with only two double faults throughout the match.
Photo by: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Sinner began strong, taking the first set but faced pressure in the second, ultimately overcoming it in a tiebreak. A crucial break at the start of the third sealed his victory in straight sets. The top seed finished with 32 winners against 26 unforced errors, while Struff recorded 28 winners but had 38 unforced errors. Sinner triumphed in total points as well, with 114 to Struff’s 95.
When asked what pleased him the most about his game, Sinner reflected:
“It felt great to serve in the important moments. I felt like I was serving intelligently today, even being a break ahead. Although I had a drop in concentration in the second set, I focused on staying present in every service game.
“How I managed those pivotal moments stands out because losing the second set can change everything, especially against powerful servers when you have less control.
“I’m proud of that. Each match is a step forward, and facing a big server on grass is always a challenge.
“I’m happy with today’s performance, and now I’ll prepare as best as I can for the semifinals.”
Next up for the Italian is a showdown against the winner of the match between Novak Djokovic and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
