MATCH REPORT | 2023 Sofia Open: Jan-Lennard STRUFF powers past Billy Harris in straight sets

Jan-Lennard Struff powered past qualifier Billy Harris in his first match at the 2023 Sofia Open, winning the clash 7-6 (5), 6-4.

The third seed kicked off his campaign at the ATP 250 tournament on a high note after a disappointing first-round defeat to Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Paris Masters last week. In Sofia, Struff got ahead early on in the first set, building up two break points on Harris' second service game and successfully converting the first one for an early break.

After this, he stayed in front until he had a 5-3 lead. At this point, his opponent managed to break back and put the set back on serve. Harris then held to level the set at 5-5 and after this neither player was able to break again in the set, meaning a tiebreak was eventually required.

Struff then won the tiebreak 7-5 and clinched the opening set. The 33-year-old proceeded to come out strong in the second set, breaking Harris in his first service game. Although the British player was able to get a W-0 hold in the next game, he was not able to carry this momentum into a successful chance to break back.

However, Struff did find himself under pressure when his service game at 4-2 went to a deuce. This was Harris' best chance to get back in the set as he got two break chances, but Struff fended off these challenges and was ultimately able to hold his serve and his lead, putting him close to victory.

Indeed, it was not long before Struff found himself serving for the match. Although Harris won the first point of the game, the German player fought back to equalize at 15-15 and took the lead from there to win the second set 6-4. He will go on to face the winner of the match between Hungary's Fabian Marozsan and Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut in the quarter-final of the tournament.