Struff Edges Tirante in Paris Decider to Set Up Ruud Clash

Jan-Lennard Struff survived a late-night test of nerve at the Paris Masters on Wednesday, edging lucky loser Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (3) in two hours and 22 minutes to reach the last 16. Playing as a special exempt, the German lost a tight opening set in a tie-break on Court 2, then steadied himself to take the second set 6-3 and force a decider. The third set went the distance as well, and Struff held his nerve in the second tie-break of the night to close out a match that featured two tie-breaks and long rallies from the baseline. He fired 15 aces and won 87 percent of his first-serve points, stepping up with his biggest serves when the pressure was greatest. It was Struff's second win of the week in Paris after he beat French wildcard Arthur Gea in the opening round, and it keeps alive a strong late-season run for the 35-year-old. Tirante, who entered the draw as a lucky loser, pushed him all the way but could not find the extra gear in the deciding tie-break. The reward for Struff is a third-round meeting with Casper Ruud on Thursday. Ruud, the three-time Grand Slam finalist, ended Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar's ATP Finals hopes earlier in the week, and he will start as favourite — but Struff's serve on Paris's fast indoor court gives him a genuine chance to cause another upset.