If there was something positive about the 7:6 (4), 3:6, 6:7 (4) semi-final defeat against Sebastian Korda (USA) in Antwerp, then it is the fact that the red-white -red tennis star Dominic Thiem can recover from the exertion before his first round appearance at the Erste Bank Open 500 on Tuesday (“Thiemstag”) in Vienna. The 29-year-old from Lichtenwörther, who will rise to 113th in the world rankings, is traveling to one of his favorite tournaments with great anticipation.
In Austria’s capital he triumphed in 2019 in front of more than 8000 enthusiastic fans and this year (hopefully a few) Herculean tasks to master. The lot was not necessarily kind to the former US Open champion. Should Thiem jump the opening hurdle Tommy Paul (WRL No. 30), the top seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev (No. 4) would probably be waiting in the round of 16.
“Of course it was painful to have lost against Korda. This time the luck I had against Hubert Hurkacz wasn’t on my side. I should have been more active in the finish. I’ll try to play aggressively in Vienna,” emphasized Thiem, who had already led 4: 3 with a break in the third set against Korda.
The form curve is clearly pointing upwards, Austria’s flagship athlete is vehemently knocking on the top 100 in the world. He is physically fit, hungry and willing to take the next steps. In the Vienna main competition, comeback man Thiem, who failed in the quarter-finals in the Stadthalle in 2020 (to Andrei Rublew/Rus) and was absent in 2021 due to a serious wrist injury, is one of a total of four ÖTV aces who are outsiders on paper .
However, Jurij Rodionov still has a number of things to say against Denis Shapovalov (WRL No. 19) – not least because he put the Canadian in his place two years ago in Vienna 6: 4 and 7: 5. “There are no easy opponents in this strong field anyway. From my point of view it’s not a bad draw. I know how to play against him to hurt him,” says 23-year-old Rodionov, number 130 in the ATP Computer, aggressive.
Kitzbühel finalist Filip Misolic has impressively demonstrated this year that he can surpass himself with the tailwind from the ranks. The world number 150. meets Francisco Cerundolo (Arg / No. 28) today, whom Thiem recently beat twice in a row. Maybe there’s a few valuable tips from the compatriot.
Dennis Novak (No. 155), who was in the round of 16 in Vienna in 2021, competes with Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 5). For Lucas Miedler, Lukas Neumayer and Alexander Erler, the first qualifying round was the end of the line.
Erste Bank Open 500 in Vienna
Venues: Wiener Stadthalle (Monday to Sunday) and Heumarkt (Tuesday to Thursday)
Prize money and points: Winner 439,305 euros/500 points, finalist 236,375/300, semifinals 125,970/180, quarterfinals 64,360/90, round of 16 34,355/45, 1st round 18,325/0 or 20 for qualifiers
topping: Hard Court (Rebound Ace)
Balls: Dunlop
Program and TV times: Monday: 1st round (2 p.m.: Servus TV; 5.45 p.m.: ORF Sport+); Tuesday: 1st round (2 p.m.: ServusTV; 5.20 p.m.: ORF 1; 7.45 p.m.: ORF Sport+); Wednesday: 1st round, round of 16 (2 p.m.: ServusTV; 5.45 p.m.: ORF Sport+); Thursday: Round of 16 (2 p.m.: ServusTV; 5.45 p.m.: ORF Sport+); Friday: Quarterfinals (2 p.m.: ServusTV; 5.45 p.m.: ORF Sport+); Saturday: semifinals (2 p.m.: ServusTV; 4 p.m.: ServusTV, ORF Sport+); Sunday: Final (1:50 p.m.: ServusTV).
Record Winner: 4: Gottfried (USA); 2: Smith (USA), Ivanisevic (Cro), Federer (Sui), Ljubicic (Cro), Melzer (Austria), Murray (Gbr), Haas (D).
Source: Nachrichten
