Tiafoe reaches first grass court final in Stuttgart
Frances Tiafoe reached his first grass court final on Saturday after seeing off Hungarian qualifier Marton Fucsovics in straight sets. The 12th-ranked American came through 6-3, 7-6 (13/11) and will face Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff for the title on Sunday in what will be his seventh tour final. “I have played some solid tennis. It is […]
Frances Tiafoe reached his first grass court final on Saturday after seeing off Hungarian qualifier Marton Fucsovics in straight sets.
The 12th-ranked American came through 6-3, 7-6 (13/11) and will face Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff for the title on Sunday in what will be his seventh tour final.
“I have played some solid tennis. It is one of my favourites surfaces. It is good to get out here and get some matches,” said Tiafoe who saved six set points in a marathon second set tie-break.
Third-seeded Tiafoe is chasing his third tour-level title and second of the season this week, having triumphed on clay in Houston in April.
Struff saw off Polish fourth seed Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to close in on a first ever title.
The 33-year-old cracked 35 winners past Hurkacz in his 89-minute victory.
“I am very happy,” Struff said. “Hubi is an incredible grass-court player, so I knew I had to play a very good match. After starting off well I found a way and I am very happy with the win.”
Meanwhile, Andy Murray is in the best shape since his hip surgery as the former world No 1 prepares for a run at Wimbledon, he said after cruising into the quarterfinals of the Rothesay Nottingham Open.
The 36-year-old three-time Grand Slam champion, who has resurrected his career after hip resurfacing surgery, opted to skip tournaments during the claycourt season in the past to focus on the grasscourt swing.