A Tricky Matchup?

Another Big Server for Mr. Muller...

Alexandre was a bit upset about being the better player against Auger-Aliassime but still losing the match, due to how well FAA served. Still, it was a good week at home. Now, let's see if he can carry some momentum into Athens! Struff has already played some matches here since he came through qualifying, beating Lajal and Bernet. It was a pretty fun match against "Federer's son" and I found Struff quite decent, with a good attitude (self-motivation, fist pumps). Struff had a really bad first half of the year with a lot of first-round exits, but the second half of the season has been a lot better. I think he benefits a lot from going through some qualifying matches, as he can find his range and rhythm against slightly easier opponents instead of getting overwhelmed in the first main draw rounds straight away. As for the matchup, I find it quite tricky for both players. Muller is a good returner (as seen against Felix); however, the courts are faster here, and Struff is great at rushing his opponents and finishing points at the net (both of which are effective against Muller). For Muller, I like the fact that he has just played a Big Server in FAA, and I found his level good from the baseline. If he can keep his own serve well and extend rallies enough, Struff is also someone who can leak a lot of errors. I would not be surprised if we see a strong start for Struff here, since he will be more used to the faster conditions, while Muller will feel a big difference compared to the slower conditions in Paris, and might need some time to adjust...