Tennis: ÖTV Davis Cup team in Ireland 2-0 ahead

First, Dominic Thiem beat Michael Agwi 7:6(6),6:3 after defending three set points after 1:46 hours on Saturday. Sebastian Ofner then followed up with a 6:4,6:4 against Osgar O’Hoisin. Now Alexander Erler/Lucas Miedler can fix the decision in doubles on Sunday.

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Thiem was able to use his first break point against the 20-year-old Agwi to make it 3-2, but still lacked the necessary sovereignty afterwards. This was also due to the aggressive play of the world number 935, who hit back with a rebreak to zero. At the end of the first set the event repeated itself. First, Thiem took the underdog’s serve to make it 6:5, but also gave up his service again due to unusual mistakes such as a smash into the net and an unsuccessful stop attempt.

Agwi took the momentum with him and pulled away to 6:3 in the tiebreak before showing nerves. Thiem found his way back to his game in the most important phase and pulled his head out of the loop again with five points in a row. “I used my experience there,” explained the 2020 US Open winner. The preliminary decision was made, the second set was then a clearer matter for Austria’s number two, the second match point could be used.

“He has nothing to lose”

“He had nothing to lose, played a great match, served exceptionally well, you saw his potential,” said Thiem in an initial reaction on the court and said a little later about his performance: “My performance was partly okay, partly “Not so good, but a win is a win. That’s the most important thing.”

Ofner then had fewer problems with O’Hoisin. Austria’s number one had to fend off two break points against number 1,015 in the world rankings in his first service game, but then Ofner took his opponent’s serve to make it 3-2 and served out. In the second set, the ÖTV professional managed a break right at the beginning, which was ultimately decisive – Ofner played through his service games without allowing a break chance.