Daniil Medvedev is through to his first semi-final of the season in Marseille. The former champion faced Jan-Lennard Struff in the quarter-final and scored a 6-3, 6-2 win in an hour and 18 minutes.
Like in the second round, Medvedev controlled the pace against a dangerous rival on an indoor court. The Russian took 17 points more than his opponent and defended all five break points, mounting the pressure on the other side.
Struff played poorly and dropped almost half of the points in his games. He faced 12 break points and defended eight. However, the better-ranked player provided eight breaks and sailed over the top in under 80 minutes.
Dominant Daniil 💪
Medvedev takes out Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3 6-2 to reach the last 4 🎉#Open13Provence pic.twitter.com/hPfHzNa0wo
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 14, 2025
Daniil landed 20 service winners and finished the duel with a 23-18 ratio. Jan-Lennard landed only seven unreturned serves and struggled from the baseline. The German rushed to the net almost 30 times, taking 17 of 27 points after moving forward.
Struff produced two fine holds at the beginning of the duel and created two break chances at 2-1 after fine hitting. Medvedev denied them with service winners and landed another to bring the game home and lock the result at 2-2.
Jan-Lennard Struff & Daniil Medvedev, Marseille 2025© Stream screenshot
The former champion faced more issues at 2-3 after a loose backhand. Daniil saved the first with a powerful serve and the second with a forced error, keeping his serve intact. Jan-Lennard missed his chances and lost the ground.
He defended two break points in the seventh game and wasted a game chance. Medvedev converted the third break chance with a lucky net cord return winner, moving 4-3 up and forging the advantage. The Russian struggled behind the initial shot again in game eight.
Jan-Lennard Struff, Marseille 2025© Stream screenshot
He denied the fifth and last break point with a well-constructed attack and a volley winner at the net before holding for 5-3. Daniil returned well in the ninth game, drawing Jan-Lennard’s mistake and taking the opener 6-3 in 42 minutes.
The top-10 player served well in the second set and kept the pressure on the other side. Struff held after deuces in the second game and faced more serious issues at 1-2. The lower-ranked player missed a volley on the third break point, falling a set and a break behind.
Daniil Medvedev, Marseille 2025© Stream screenshot
Medvedev fired an ace in the fifth game, holding at love and moving 4-1 in front. The former champion landed another ace in game seven and opened a 5-2 gap. Jan-Lennard served to stay in the match in game eight and defended three match points.
The Russian generated the fourth with a forced error and seized it after the rival’s volley mistake.
Tennis World USA