Adria Tour: Thiem benefits from Dzumhur task, Djokovic, Zverev win
The first session at Novak Djokovic's Adria Tour has been beaten and all favorites were able to win their opening matches. While Grigor Dimitrov and Alexander Zverev still had to fight hard, Novak Djokovic did so confidently. Dominic Thiem, on the other hand, benefited from a task Damir Dzumhur , who had to stop after two games due to injury.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jun 13, 2020, 06:58 pm
The picture that was revealed to the spectators of the Adria Tour was very special in those times. In Belgrade a good 2,000 spectators enjoyed the top-class field of participants. COVID-19 hygiene measures are not noticeable at the exhibition tournament organized by Novak Djokovic.
And they should also see very good tennis, the match between Dusan Lajovic and Girgor Dimitrov turned out to be a hot exchange of blows. Local hero Lajovic already looked like the sure winner in round one, was 3-1 ahead (only up to four games won are played on the Adria Tour). But Dimitrov got the rebreak, forced the decisive tie break at the 3: 3 stand and secured it confidently. In the second set, however, it was again Dusan Lajovic who was able to put his stamp on the game and convert it into countable things. The Serb equalized with a 4: 3. A third round had to bring the decision: Here Girgor Dimitrov played his whole class and gave Lajovic 4: 1 no chance.
Thiem only has to play two games
Then it was time for the number two of the tournament, Dominic Thiem. The Austrian competed against Damir Dzumhur as a very big favorite and proved that right from the start. After an early break, it was a startling moment in Belgrade. Bosnian Dzumhur doubled over after a serve, had to be treated and could not continue. After only two games, Dzumhur had to give up.
Immediately after Thiem's short appearance, the star of the tournament, Novak Djokovic, entered the court. He should be dealing with Viktor Troicki, a very clear matter on paper. The industry leader was able to bring the statistical superiority to the pitch in the usual sovereign manner, with 4: 1 and 4: 1 he did not give Troicki a chance - and also had time to entertain the audience.
The day session ended with Alexander Zverev and Filip Krajinovic. At first, the German number one could clearly see the lack of match practice. Zverev quickly took the two breaks and had to lose set one with 0: 4. In the second round, the Hamburg player found the game better and was able to force a decisive tie-break. In this the German could show nerve strength, caught up with a mini break and secured the second round 7: 5 in the tie break. A third sentence had to bring the decision. In this Krajinovic made the first break, but had to give it up again straight away. And so it went into a decisive tie-break in this round - here Zverev presented himself extremely exhausted, pulled away early and sealed the comeback victory.
Alexander Zverev is doing well now to serve more at exhibitions, since he will need a significant increase in performance to return to the tour successfully. The look at the double fault statistics should be particularly painful for Zverev in this match: In the end there were 10 double faults in the German.
The results of the day session at a glance:
| Player 1 | Player 2 | group | Result |
| Grigor Dimitrov | Dusan Lajovic | DOMINIC | 4: 3, 3: 4, 4: 1 |
| Dominic Thiem | Damir Dzumhur | DOMINIC | 2: 0 ret. |
| Novak Djokovic | Viktor Troicki | NOVAK | 4: 1, 4: 1 |
| Alexander Zverev | Filip Krajinovic | NOVAK | 0: 4, 4: 3 (5), 4: 3 (2) |