Image: VALERY HACHE (APA/AFP/VALERY HACHE)
Dominic Thiem won his opening game at the ATP250 tournament in Umag against Argentine qualifier Facundo Bagnis 6-4, 7-5. “I knew it was going to be hard work,” said the 29-year-old, as Bagnis was able to get used to the conditions after winning two qualifiers. When the score was 4: 5 in the second set, Thiem fended off two set balls and used the second match ball after two hours and three minutes.
In the round of 16 of the clay court event in Croatia, where he celebrated his second tournament victory eight years ago, the Lower Austrian meets the top seeded Czech Jiri Lehecka. He has never played against the 21-year-old number 33 in the world rankings – but trained with him the day before, as Thiem said after his opening win. “He’s playing his best year. He’s so young and plays very fast. So I’ll use my experience and try to play a good game.”
Qualifier Filip Misolic challenges the Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka in the first round in Umag on Tuesday. Sebastian Ofner, seeded number three, has to deal with Australian Alexei Popyrin after a bye in the round of 16. Ofner is 52nd in the world rankings at a new career high.
Grabher ended her dry spell
At the women’s tournament in Hamburg, Julia Grabher celebrated her first victory since the French Open: The 27-year-old from Vorarlberg made it into the round of 16 at the European Open, organized by Sandra Reichel from Wels, by beating Romanian Miriam Bulgaru 6: 4, 6: 4, where Diana Shnaider from Russia is waiting on Tuesday.
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