Struff reaches maiden final as Basilashvili awaits in Munich
Ilya Ivashka was unable to pull off another upset at the BMW Open, meaning a German player will be in Sunday’s final.
Jan-Lennard Struff – BMW Open
Jan-Lennard Struff is through to his first final on the ATP Tour after ending Ilya Ivashka’s impressive run at the BMW Open in Munich.
- Estoril: Draw | Order of Play | News
- Munich: Draw | Order of Play | News
Struff had lost in his previous seven semi-final appearances and it appeared the streak may continue when he quickly fell 3-0 behind against his opponent from Belarus.
However, qualifier Ivashka – who had knocked out top seed Alexander Zverev in the previous round – only managed to win two more games in the remainder of a contest that spanned 87 minutes.
A 6-4, 6-1 win for Struff sets up a showdown with Nikoloz Basilashvili, who crushed Casper Ruud 6-1, 6-2 to progress through from the other half of the draw.
“I am happy to have reached my first final on home soil in Germany and I will try my best tomorrow,” seventh seed Struff said after Saturday’s match.
Both Basilashvili and Ruud had completed their quarter-final ties earlier on Saturday, but it was the former who coped better with a quick return to action on the clay court, easing to victory in 71 minutes.
career ATP finals for @albertramos88!
The more experienced Spaniard prevails 6-1 6-4 vs Davidovich Fokina and will face Norrie tomorrow for the Estoril title #EstorilOpen pic.twitter.com/v4zt9eK5aT
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 1, 2021
Norrie stops Cilic, Ramos-Vinolas remains hot on clay
At the Estoril Open, Cameron Norrie moved a step closer to a first ATP title after withstanding a barrage of aces to overcome the big-serving Marin Cilic in two sets.
Norrie managed to save five of the six break-point opportunities on his own serve as he eventually prevailed 7-6 (7-5) 7-5. His only previous experience of a final on the ATP Tour came back in 2019, when he lost to Tennys Sandgren at the ASB Classic in Auckland.
“[Marin] was serving great and it was really tricky to get his first serve back. I am fortunate to get through and I am just happy to be in my second final,” the Briton said in his on-court interview.
Albert Ramos-Vinolas is the last player standing in his way, the Spaniard battling back after losing his serve in both sets to beat compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1 6-4.
In one minute: how Albert Ramos reached his 2nd final of the year, first ever in Portugal. pic.twitter.com/MQxBllXDtk
— Millennium #EstorilOpen (@EstorilOpen) May 1, 2021
Ramos-Vinolas is into hs tenth career final. The 33-year-old Spaniard is the ATP’s clay-court win leader in 2021 with 15.
