Image: AFP/Hache
Dominic Thiem did brilliantly in the first match after separating from coach Nicolas Massu. Lichtenwörther, equipped with a wild card, confidently advanced to the second round of the ATP Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo. The world number 106. finished off the 36-year-old Frenchman Richard Gasquet, number 42 in the ATP computer, 6: 1, 6: 4 and is now dealing with number 9 in the ranking, Holger Rune (Den). There is much more resistance to be expected.
Thiem converted his second match point after 90 minutes, before the former US Open champion had put his opponent under constant pressure with vehement baseline shots. The service was also brilliant. The 29-year-old produced six aces and didn’t have to fend off a single breakball. This is anything but natural on sand.
The German-Iranian Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh sat in the stands as a coach for the first time. The 43-year-old could support Thiem on his way to change his game again (as he put it). The first appearance together was promising.
“Gasquet is one of the tennis legends of the past decades. It’s always great to play against him. It was a casual match,” said Thiem.
Source: Nachrichten
