Lucky loser Struff ahead of Madrid final v Alcaraz: ‘If you have a second chance, go for it’

Jan-Lennard Struff didn’t know he was about to be in the main draw of the Mutua Madrid Open until a few hours after his defeat in qualifiers.

“I lost at 11 in the morning. The match wasn’t that long. Maybe 12:30 I was out. Then I heard that one guy pulled out, I think Lestienne was it, and Fognini pulled out, and if they pull out during the qualies draw, they will decide by lot or put coins.

“There were two Lucky Losers, so they take three in total. And after the qualies finished they did it, and they have always one representative to take the coins, and luckily he took me. He texted me straightaway, and I knew this guy, it was a bit lucky, I don’t know.”

The German lost to Aslan Karatsev in the second round of qualification – the same man he beat in Friday’s semi-final to become the first ever lucky loser to reach the final of an ATP Masters 1000 event.

“In a tactic way, I didn’t play the really, really good match there in the qualies, but he played pretty well. I would say outside courts are a bit faster, as well, a bit smaller.

“It was very, very hot that day, 30 degrees. It was bouncing. Now we played in evening, which was a bit difference, as well. He went for his shots and was very tough to return in the quallies match. I had a bit problems with this — he hit very hard in that match, and it was very tough to control.

“So today it was more important to be ready for the shots, to go a bit more by myself, to play more aggressive from my side. That was the tactic way.

“The mindset was like to allow myself to play this offensive game style, to go through the ball and stay focused and stay positive the whole time.”

Struff: Alcaraz is a complete player

And now the 33-year-old faces former world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz for a chance to lift the trophy on Sunday. The pair have played twice before – both times at Grand Slams, and they have one win apiece. Struff got the win on the Paris clay two years ago, while the Spaniard edged it on grass at Wimbledon. Still, the luckiest of lucky losers knows that his opponent from 2021 has progressed immeasurably since then.

“Carlos is now 20 years old today. We played in Roland Garros when he was 18. For a young player like him, he changed so much in this time. When we see what he achieved in this last two years, it’s just amazing.

“Yeah, I managed to beat him in Roland Garros. From the matches as well in Wimbledon, it was very intense match, very, very — he’s a complete player. He has a lot of weapons. He’s serve and volleying, playing strong from the baseline, serving well, he has a dropshot. He’s very fast. He’s a great athlete.

“So, yeah, I just remember that it was two tough battles, and I’m happy that I have a rest day tomorrow. It was for me two tough battles now in a row, and I will be ready to prepare for Sunday. Really, really happy to be in the finals, and really looking forward to this match.”

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