Frances Tiafoe recorded a significant milestone in his career at the 2023 Stuttgart Open, and not just one.
Entering the ATP 250 tournament in the German city, the 25-year-old American already had hard and clay-court titles in his cabinet, but no from the grass courts. His most recent triumph came at the 2023 Houston Open, and Tiafoe was hungry for more.
Moreover, the 2023 Stuttgart Open gave him a chance to also break into the Top 10 in the ATP Rankings for the first time in his career. Tiafoe saw this chance and cruised through the tournament without any major difficulties.
But in the final, he met a man who was on a mission too. Recently, Jan-Lennard Struff dethroned Alexander Zverev from the German No. 1 spot, and in front of the home fans in Stuttgart, he did it again. But as the American targeted the Top 10 breakthrough, Struff could also appear in the Top 20 for the first time in his career, so there was a lot to play for.
And that was obvious from the moment the first ball was hit. Both players utilized their strong serves and together, they hit 41 aces throughout the match. Yet, the only break of the match happened in the first set, and it was the German who got it, winning the opening set 6-4.
But Tiafoe was determined to fight for the Top 10 spot. He had three break points in the tenth game of the second set, which were also set points, but he couldn't use his chances. Therefore, the second set had to be decided in a tie-break, but since the American virtually stopped missing, he won it 7-1 and took the match into a decider.
Both players fully showcased their serving qualities in the third set. Hitting 15 aces combined and never facing a break point, the two protagonists of the final took the deciding set into a tie-break, giving fans a show they came for.
In the tie-break, it seemed like players didn't know it's first to seven points, as they kept fighting as if the tie-break was endless. First, Tiafoe had a match point at 6-5, and then Struff had his chance at 7-6.
But none of those chances were used. The American had another match point at 8-7, but after failing to convert that one, he finally did it on his own serve, winning the tie-break 10-8 to win the 2023 Stuttgart Open.
It marks an important milestone in Tiafoe's career as he not only broke into the Top 10, but also one of a few players to have won the trophy on all three surfaces, as Stefanos Tsitsipas ended a five-year wait for a player like that last season. Happy after the triumph, Tiafoe said:
"I want to congratulate Struffi, what a match. I know you really wanted it today, but you will get one, just keep going. Thanks Wayne, what a run we've had."
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