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Match details
Fixture: Jan-Lennard Struff vs Vasek Pospisil
Date: 10 November 2020
Tournament: Sofia Open 2020
Round: Second round (Round of 16)
Venue: Sofia, Bulgaria
Category: ATP 250 Series
Surface: Indoor hardcourt
Prize money: €325,615
Match timing: Approx. 8 pm local time, 11.30 pm IST
Live telecast: USA - ESPN / Tennis Channel
Jan-Lennard Struff vs Vasek Pospisil preview
Jan-Lennard Struff has been consistently ranked in the top 50 of the world rankings since mid-2019, with a peak ranking of No. 29 and a current ranking of No. 36. The German has posted a 15-14 record on the circuit this year, but is still waiting for his breakthrough at a big tournament.
Struff's best result at a Major so far has been a fourth round appearance at the 2019 French Open. The German reached his first Masters quarterfinal at the Cincinnati Masters earlier this year, where he lost to Novak Djokovic.
Vasek Pospisil meanwhile comes into the Sofia tournament ranked No. 74 in the world, although he was as high as No. 25 in 2014.
The Canadian had to undergo surgery to repair a herniated disc in 2019, after which he was not able to touch a racket for five months. In that context, Pospisil's comeback from No. 248 in the world last October to back inside the top 100 right now is very impressive.
While his best results have come in doubles (where he has been a top 5 player and a Wimbledon doubles champ), the Canadian has been focusing more on singles lately.
Jan-Lennard Struff vs Vasek Pospisil head-to-head
Jan-Lennard Struff and Vasek Pospisil have met twice on the ATP tour so far, and their head-to-head is currently tied at 1-1.
Struff won their most recent encounter, at Munich 2016, in three sets. Pospisil, however, won their match at s-Hertogenbosch 2014 in straights.
Jan-Lennard Struff vs Vasek Pospisil prediction
Seeded No. 4 at this week's tournament, Jan-Lennard Struff had a first round bye and so will be playing his first match of the tournament on Tuesday.
The German has posted some decent results in 2020. While his 15-14 record may not seem great on paper, three of those losses have come to Novak Djokovic, while two were against Stefanos Tsitsipas and four to players ranked above him.
Vasek Pospisil on the other hand reached the final of the Montpellier event in February, where he lost to Frenchman Gael Monfils. He also made it to the round of 16 at the US Open.
More recently, Pospisil reached the second round of the Vienna Open after coming through the qualifiers. And in his first round match at Sofia, the Canadian rallied to win in a third set tie-breaker over Illya Marchenko.
Both Struff and Pospisil like to play aggressive tennis and take control of the points with their forehand. The Canadian has a better net game though, and will likely try to come forward to put some pressure on his German opponent.
This is likely to be a close encounter, and the player who keeps their error count to a minimum will be able to come away with the win.
Prediction: Vasek Pospisil to win in three sets.
