New application areas such as compact drives and displacement control using variable electric motors require that hydrostatic machines exhibit good performance also at very low relative speeds without being damaged during critical mixed friction conditions. Low relative speeds result in a drop of the hydrodynamic pressure in the lubricating gaps and therefore to friction losses, wear and a higher probability of failures. The aim of this paper is to present a novel approach to reduce the viscous friction losses and wear during critical operating conditions, by increasing the hydrodynamic pressure build-up of the slippers of an axial piston pump. In order to achieve this goal structured surface profiles are investigated to be adapted to the slipper surface, both in simulation and measurement. The simulation results and design process are shown in this paper.