Struff sees off Bublik Enemy in style at UTS Grand Final

Jan-Lennard Struff found his top form at the perfect time as he beat Alexander Bublik – The Bublik Enemy – 15-14, 14-13, 16-12 in the first match of Group B at UTS London by Builder.ai on Friday.

The German – The Thunder – lived up to his name with some big serving, big hitting and clutch play under pressure to win a UTS match outside of Germany for the first time.

“Sometimes you have to be a bit lucky,” Struff said. “First two quarters went in my way at the end, I was down, saving the triple point. But you need a bit of luck. I don’t know how I wont the first two. It went my way this time. I’m very happy with that.”

Struff rides his luck on deciding points

Struff had admitted on the eve of the event that the one-serve rule was not in his favour and he threw in two faults early in the opening quarter as Bublik went through his whole arsenal of shots, including a round the net forehand winner and an underarm serve.

It looked as if the Kazakh would snatch the first quarter when he led 13-10 but the German won his bonus card and then, after the scores were tied 14-14 with the time run out, Bublik went big on serve but it cannoned off the net and out to give Struff the advantage.

Struff wins second tight quarter and then pulls away

Buoyed by the first quarter, Struff went toe to toe with Bublik in the second and again it came down to a deciding point, and again it was The Thunder who took it to double his lead.

Bublik looked like he was toying with Struff at times but made too many errors on big points and Struff took advantage, pulling away in the third to win it 16-12 and sit on top of Group B.

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