ATP Challenger Rennes: Dominic Thiem is struggling to reach the semifinals
Dominic Thiem reached the semifinals at the ATP Challenger tournament in Rennes. Against the world number 331. Adrian Andreev had to make up for a set deficit.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Sep 16, 2022, 11:07 pm
In the end, it was 3: 6, 6: 3 and 6: 2 from Thiem's point of view, who will meet local hero Hugo Gaston on Saturday.
Thiem tormented himself badly over long stretches of the Mach. The agile Andreev - apart from good serves - did not have the punches to quickly get him into trouble, but Thiem himself rarely managed to take the initiative; long rallies often ended with a hasty action. And until the middle of the second set with many forehand errors.
Thiem could not transport a break in the second round, but then he could. In the third round he pulled away from the 2:2.
Thiem struggled a lot, sometimes didn't seem to be at the best energy level and with great insecurities on the forehand, in which he too often didn't put enough force forward. The backhand: much more stable. And responsible for the few spectacular point wins, often after a stop.
In the end it didn't matter, it's a fight victory for self-confidence.
Quick legs will probably be required against Gaston, the Frenchman had beaten his compatriot Benoit Paire 6: 3, 6: 1 in the duel of the stop champions in the evening.