After an entertaining week of tennis at the ATP Stuttgart Open just two men are still standing. Both Frances Tiafoe and Jan-Lennard Struff deserve their chance to lift an ATP Tour title and both will no doubt be desperate to continue building momentum ahead of Wimbledon. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our prediction for the final, but who will come out on top?
ATP Stuttgart Open Final Prediction
Jan-Lennard Struff vs Frances Tiafoe
Head-to-head: Struff 1-1 Tiafoe
Struff, despite his flat groundstrokes and huge serve, has not thrived on the grass so far in his career. But he has found a new level of consistency so far this season, with the highlight his run to the final in Madrid, and that has served him well so far on the grass at the ATP Stuttgart Open – not least in his win over former-Wimbledon semifinalist Hubert Hurkacz in the last four in Stuttgart. After striking 35 winners and winning 17 of 20 points that he finished at the net, Struff will surely be full of confidence.
[cta id=591 type=cta] (FanDuel)
But he should not take Tiafaoe’s challenge lightly. The American is an established member of the top 20 for a reason, and has looked sharp so far in Stuttgart, beating Jiri Lehecka, Lorenzo Musetti and Marton Fucsovics to reach the final in Germany’s motor city. Another warning sign for Struff should be Tiafoe’s run to the fourth round at Wimbledon last season, a run which saw the American beat Andrea Vavasorri, Maximilian Marterer, and Alexander Bublik, before losing to David Goffin in the last 16.
Ultimately, this is a match that Struff should probably win. The German’s game is better suited to these conditions than Tiafoe’s, and he will also have the crowd right behind him. But there is also a reason that Tiafoe is the higher ranked man. Struff can hit the ball about as hard as anyone, but Tiafoe has better control. He is also a better mover. Expect this match to go the distance, but unless Struff can redline throughout, Tiafoe should be able to draw enough errors to lift the title.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 3
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
