ATP titles will be on the line in Stuttgart and ‘s-Hertogenbosch on Sunday. The Stuttgart final pits Germany’s own Jan-Lennard Struff against American Frances Tiafoe, while Tallon Griekspoor battles Jordan Thompson in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
BOSS Open: Jan-Lennard Struff vs. (3) Frances Tiafoe
Struff has never won an ATP title, but he has a chance to finally get the job done in front of his home crowd when he faces Tiafoe in the Stuttgart final on Sunday afternoon. The 32-year-old German will be playing in his third final, and this run certainly hasn’t come our of nowhere. Struff’s 2023 campaign includes successful qualification at the Australian Open and Masters 1000s in Indian Wells and Miami plus a quarterfinal showing in Monte-Carlo and a runner-up performance in Madrid. The world No. 24 is 15-8 on the main tour this season following Stuttgart victories over Zhizhen Zhang, Tommy Paul, Richard Gasquet, and Hubert Hurkacz.
Tiafoe has been even better this year, with a 26-9 record that features a semifinal result in Indian Wells and a title on the red clay of Houston. The 12th-ranked American will break into the top 10 for the first time in his career if he lifts the trophy of Sunday. He has put himself in position to do it thanks to defeats of Jiri Lehecka, Lorenzo Musetti, and Marton Fucsovics. Tiafoe is no slouch on grass, but a fast surface favors Struff and with the underdog benefiting from home-court advantage a minor upset could be in the cards.
Pick: Struff in 3
Libema Open: Jordan Thompson vs. (6) Tallon Griekspoor
Having previously gone 16 consecutive installments of the tournament without a homegrown winner, the Dutch fans could see two in a row on Sunday. Following Tim van Rijthoven’s improbable heroics last summer in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, now it is Griekspoor who finds himself one win away from the title. The world No. 38 has advanced with victories over Mikael Ymer, Alexei Popyrin, Alex de Minaur, and Emil Ruusuvuori, dropping just one set to De Minaur in the process.
Up next for Griekspoor is Thompson, who won their only previous encounter 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 last season during Davis Cup competition. Thompson is through to his second-ever ATP final and also second at this same ‘s-Hertogenbosch event. Needless to say, the 29-year-old loves grass. Even though Thompson has never captured an ATP title, the pressure is on Griekspoor to follow in Van Rijthoven’s footsteps and the Aussie seems poised to lift a singles trophy for the first time.
Pick: Thompson in 3
WWW?
How can you not pick Griekspoor in this spot? You had ADM and Ruus beating him and he got by easily. I do not think Thompson will be able to test him whatsoever. I don’t think it’s right to to keep fading him hoping he loses when he has been playing like this in front of his home crowd. Griekspoor in 2.
I agree how can you fade him
you guys sure about that?
I’m with Jay….Gpoor in 3…and Tiafoe wins in 2 as well.