Australian Open 2019: Dominic Thiem opens against Benoit Paire
Dominic Thiem will face Benoit Paire at the 2019 Australian Open and in the second round the winner of the match between Alexej Popyrin and Mischa Zverev would be waiting.
by tennisnet
last edit: Jan 10, 2019, 09:36 am
Thiem already played in Melbourne against Paire in 2017, when the Austrian number one prevailed in the third round in four sets.
Last year, Thiem started by beating Guido Pella, then defeating Denis Kudla in five tough sets. In round three it was enough to win sovereign against Adrian Mannarino. All the more surprising the end in the round of 16 against Tennys Sandgren.
Rod Laver, Darren Cahill and Todd Woodbridge all had their part in the draw, which was broadcast live from the Margarete Court Arena. Defending champion Roger Federer also appeared, as did Caroline Wozniacki, who won her first Grand Slam title in Melbourne a year ago. For Federer, who won the Australian Open six times, it will be the 20th appearance in the main field of the first major of the year.
The Swiss, who was drawn into the lower half of the tableau, starts his campaign for a seventh title against Denis Istomin. Novak Djokovic opens against a qualifier, after which a meeting with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga could wait. Rafael Nadal is dealing with James Duckworth, German number one, Alexander Zverev, with Aljaz Bedene.