ATP Cup: Austria eliminated after Dominic Thiem's loss to Hubert Hurkacz
Austria also loses the last group game at the ATP Cup: After Dennis Novak's bitter defeat at the start, Dominic Thiem could not bring the Austrians back in the international match with Poland. With 6: 3, 4: 6 and 6: 7 (5) ( the game can be found in our live ticker ), the 26-year-old defeated Hubert Hurkacz, unbeaten in the ATP Cup .
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 08, 2020, 06:03 am
Round two in the international match between Austria and Poland: After Dennis Novak's bitter defeat against Kacper Zuk at the start , Dominic Thiem had to win to keep the real chance that the Austrians would advance. But the task for the Lichtenwörther was anything but an easy one, since he was dealing with the previously unbeaten Hubert Hurkacz.
The memories of the 22-year-old Poland are anything but positive: In the only meeting so far in the second round of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami, the 1.96-man Hurkacz was able to beat 6: 4 and 6: 4 push through. Dominic Thiem was the clear favorite on paper, in the world rankings the 26-year-old is 33 places ahead of Poland.
Thiem starts strongly
The level was high right from the start, after secure opening service games it was Dominic Thiem who developed the first break opportunity in the third game. Thiem's forehand attack did not lead to success this time and Hurkacz was able to keep his serve. But things went much better in the fifth game. With a very strong return performance, Thiem broke the first break of the meeting of the two ones. With a tummy ache and three blocked breakballs, Thiem was able to confirm this.
In terms of break chances, the game slowed down a bit - but there was no lack of highlights. When the score was 5: 3, Thiem set out again to break the 1.96 chickens. And that should also succeed the Lichtenwörther: After 38 minutes, set one went 6: 3 to the Austrian.
Hurkacz doesn't give up - Thiem subsides
The way in which this 6: 3 came about was particularly impressive. Dominic Thiem returned as strong as (almost) never before, hardly allowed anything on his own serve and showed his best attacking tennis.
At the start of the second set, neither player wanted to break a ball and the pressure from the Austrian also eased a bit. So it was the Pole who found the first chances of winning the game on opposing serve and knew how to use them. A significant increase in Hurkacz's performance soon meant the set win: 6: 4 for the Pole.
As in the first game of the day, the game of the ones went into a decision set. Especially in the return game, Thiem could no longer act as naturally as in the first one and a half sentences. In the fourth game of the set, Hubert Hurkazc was really in trouble, but the Pole was able to fend off all four breakballs.
At the score of 5: 5 it was Dominic Thiem, who proved to be nerve-racking and fended off two breakballs. So it went into the all-important tie-break. Until 3: 3, the game was characterized by mini breaks, contrary to the course of the game. With 6: 4 Hurkacz then had the opportunity to win the game on his own serve. In an incredible rally, Thiem was able to get back, but had to take the loss of the match on his own serve.
End point for Team Austria
For the Austrians, the chance for a place in the quarter-finals is definitely gone. The end of the international match is now the double between Marach / Melzer and Hurkacz / Kubot. With a little more luck in one situation or another, Thomas Muster's team would have been much more inside. In any case, Muster would have earned a place in the last eight for his performance on the supervisor bench.