Jan Hernych wins first round clash against Jan-Lennard Struff – Eckental Challenger 2011
On November 1, 2011, Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) played against Jan Hernych in the first round men’s singles competition of the 2011 Eckental Challenger. The 32-year old Czech player won the match 7-5, 6-1. Both the players, evenly
matched in their playing style, were not giving each other much room to score points in the first set.
As the first set progressed, Struff, ranked at 238th place in the world, delivered four aces but conceded a double fault. His first serve winning ratio was fifty-six percent. On the other hand, Hernych scored three aces
but conceded two double faults. His first serve winning ratio in the first set was fifty-percent.
The Czech player did have higher double faults and his first serve winning ratio was not much higher than his opponent, however, he was able to save all four of his breakpoints, which helped him take a lead in the first set.
Struff could only manage to win five out of his eight breakpoints. The decisive moment in the first set came when Hernych did not let Struff take the first set into a tiebreaker and won it 7-5. It was an intelligent move, by the
218th ranked Czech player, who contained his opponent on five games in the first set. Hernych won the other two games to win the set 7-5.
In the second set, Struff scored two aces while his opponent could not deliver any. Both players had single double fault in the set. Struff was fairly higher in terms of first serve winning rate with 53% while Hernych scored 46%.
Struff, who won his qualifying match on October 30, 2011 against compatriot Daniel Baumann in an impressive straight set win of 6-4, 6-3, was looking out of form against Hernych.
Both players were meeting each other for the first time on a tennis court, which proved to be a heavy defeat for the German. Struff wanted to win the match and enter the next round of the tournament, anticipating a debut title
win in the ATP circuit.
During the second set, the Czech player saved all four of his breakpoints, which reduced Struff’s chances to gain any sort of lead in the match. The German, on the other hand, could only save two of his five breakpoints, which
was an indication that he was unable to restrict Hernych with his counter attack.
The Czech player did not score an ace in the second set but he progressed smoothly by not letting Struff win more than one game. The lead grew bigger as Hernych kept his consistent place going, winning the second set 6-1, qualifying
for the next round of the 2011 Eckental Challenger.
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