MUNICH: Jan-Lennard Struff romped past defending champion Holger Rune in straight sets to reach the final of the Munich ATP tournament on Saturday.
Fourth seed Struff, the world number 28, won 6-2, 6-0 and will face American third seed Taylor Fritz in Sunday's final.
Fritz reached his first clay-court final after losing in six previous semi-final appearances on the surface by seeing off 2019 champion Cristian Garin of Chile 6-3, 6-4.
Second seed Rune had won the past two tournaments in Munich and was bidding to become the first man to win three successive titles in Munich since Bud Patty in 1956.
"It was close to a perfect match, unbelievable," said 33-year Struff, the 2019 runner-up, who played twice on Saturday after having to complete his last-eight tie with Felix Auger-Aliassime which had been suspended late Friday.
"The result shows just how many things came together. I hope I can take the last step."
Fritz, 26, said it was "really cool" to finally break his clay-court final jinx.
"I have been really close to a clay-court final a couple of times. It would be awesome to get a title," he said.
Fritz, the world number 15, broke Garin once in each set to make it through to his second final of the season after winning the Delray Beach Open in February. --AFP
