ATP Estoril: Dominic Thiem in round 1 against Sebastian Ofner!
Hammer draw at the Estoril Open - at least from an Austrian point of view: Because here Dominic Thiem (ATP No. 106) meets compatriot Sebastian Ofner (ATP No. 137) in round 1!
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Apr 02, 2023, 08:07 pm
That was the result of the draw on Sunday afternoon - or Sunday evening. Because Dominic Thiem had drawn a qualifier, but the qualification was still in full swing. And Sebastian Ofner right in the middle. The 26-year-old finally prevailed in the late afternoon after a hard fight 6: 7 (6), 7: 6 (5) and 6: 3 against Frederico Ferreira Silva.
In the evening the qualifiers were drawn - and Ofner Dominic Thiem!
It will be the third encounter between the two at ATP level. The previous two, in 2019 and 2022 at the Generali Open in Kitzbühel, Thiem had won - in 2019 with 6: 3, 6: 2, in 2022 with 6: 2, 3: 6 and 6: 3.
Ofner ahead of Thiem in the 2023 race
However, the signs are critical for Thiem: He only celebrated one victory in 2023 and is only ranked 519 in the annual race. In contrast to Ofner, who has already reached two finals on the Challenger Tour (Antalya and Zadar) and in the race Rank 79 is listed.
The winner of the game meets the winner of the duel between Ben Shelton and Constant Lestienne.
Jurij Rodionov is also in the main draw
However, Thiem and Ofner are not the only two ÖTV representatives in the draw: Jurij Rodionov also made it in - as the last player on a direct route - and meets Albert Ramos-Vinolas in round 1.
Casper Ruud is the top seed in Portugal ahead of Hubert Hurkacz - both have a bye to start with.