Thirsty Tiafoe needs a drink to celebrate Stuttgart title

Frances Tiafoe was seeking liquid refreshment after defeating Jan-Lennard Struff 4-5, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (8) on Sunday to win his first career title on grass with victory at the ATP Stuttgart Boss event.

The American claimed his second trophy of the season after Houston and set himself up as a modest Wimbledon threat.

But the fun-loving player who will crack the Top 10 for the first time in his career on Monday, was most interested in an adult beverage before heading to Queen’s club, London for next week’s pre-Wimbledon grass event.

“I was really happy to win. I just want to have a drink now – to be fair,” he said.

Tiafoe secured victory in just under two and a quarter hours as he managed a diving lunge winner over the net on match point which he still cannot quite comprehend.

“I had to give it all on the match point,” the winner said. “I hit an overhead but he got to it. I had to dive and got super-lucky.

“On that match point – his third , i don’t know how I got the ball over the net, but I’ll take it.”

Struff, 33 put up a top performance with 28 aces. The last German to win the home title was Michael Stich 32 years ago.

Tiafoe was playing his seventh career final and now owns three titles.

“It was an incredible match,” the winner said. “I didn’t break him for two hours, Struffie was serving well today. “It was just super-tough.

“It’s good to walk away with the title.” 

Tiafoe will join Taylor Fritz in the ranking Top 10, as the US lands two men in that elite group for the first time since Mardy Fish and Andy Roddick in July, 2011.

Main photo:- Frances Tiafoe celebrates victory in Stuttgart by ATPTennis.com