ATP Masters in Miami, Quali, Tuesday, 21.03.2023
That was close! A German player, who seemed to be in very good form, was almost eliminated in the first round of the Miami Masters. Reaching the main draw? Normally a must!
On Tuesday evening, he wants to clear the last hurdle and is clearly favoured against his Chinese opponent at Bet3000. In my Zhang Struff tip, however, I now reveal why I don’t expect an outright German victory!
Is Jan-Lennard Struff not as stable as he and many fans thought? The 32-year-old has a lot planned for 2023 and wants to establish himself in the world’s top 100 again.
He has already reached the semi-finals twice and always showed solid performances against strong opponents. Especially the dress rehearsal before the Miami Masters was a really strong one.
At the Challenger in Phoenix, he got through the qualifying without any problems and then beat Pavel Kotov and Thanasi Kokkinakis outright. Alexander Bublik, seeded 4th, was also swept aside by Struff.
It was only shortly before the final that nerves fluttered when Nuno Borges was too strong. After this great tournament, everyone had actually expected him to come through the Miami qualifying opener unscathed.
Facing 17-year-old Learner Tien, Struff promptly lost the first set 3-6, but fortunately recovered to take home 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The German will now have to work hard to get through the second qualifying match. In Indian Wells, he mastered this phase without losing a set, although the opponents were more demanding then.
The last time Struff failed to qualify in Miami was nine years ago, and of course there should not be a repeat in 2023. Struff does not yet know his current opponent, Zhizhen Zhang, from direct duels.
On Tuesday, the two will meet for the first time ever, and our betting providers see Struff in the lead with average odds of 1.50 to 2.50. But Zhang should by no means be underestimated.
The world number 92 is taking part in the Miami Masters for the first time and naturally wants to get straight into the main draw. He has already made a strong start there against Mattia Bellucci, winning 6-1, 6-3.
At the Challenger in Phoenix he was clearly eliminated in the round of 16 against Alexander Bublik. We remember: It was exactly Bublik whom Struff defeated a little later!
But he had not been bad at all in Indian Wells shortly before. Zhang survived the qualifying round, but in his 1-2 loss in the first round against Alexei Popyrin, he was unlucky to just miss advancing.
Zhang’s results this year have been slightly worse than Jan-Lennard Struff’s, which is noticeable. But every now and then his talent flashes through, which makes him so dangerous and also unpredictable.
My Zhang Struff Tip
It shouldn’t be easy from the German point of view to celebrate a place in the main draw without any difficulties. Struff has been playing his best tennis in Phoenix, so the recent problems against Learner Tien were all the more surprising.
Zhang has had clear early defeats as well as surprising victories in equal measure this year. I rate the Chinese as talented, but not consistent. Since Struff wavered on Monday, I’ll now go for the following tip:
Zhang snatches a set against Struff!
