Erste Bank Open: Dominic Thiem - what is possible in Vienna?
After his elimination in the semi-finals in Antwerp, Dominic Thiem now wants to go hunting for points at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. The draw is sporty. But not impossible to manage.
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Oct 23, 2022, 08:48 am
The ATP has also been offering a live ranking on its official website for a few weeks, in which all results are priced in immediately. So did Dominic Thiem's narrow defeat against Sebastian Korda in the semifinals in Antwerp. The tournament, which was successful overall, has brought Thiem 19 stations closer to a double-digit place in the table, live the 2020 US Open champion is in 113th place.
Tommy Paul, who will be Dominic Thiem's opening opponent at the Erste Bank Open in the Wiener Stadthalle, is currently ranked 30th. But that doesn't mean that Paul will be the favorite in the second match against Thiem (the first was in round 2019 one of the French Open, Thiem won in four sets). Because anyone who saw Paul in his second round appearance in Stockholm against Mikael Ymer had to realize that the American's tank is almost empty. In any case, Paul wasn't in the mood for longer rallies against Ymer and shot himself out of the tableau. And that after he almost provided development aid at the start against Leo Borg.
Thiem's tiebreak series breaks
What about Dominic Thiem's reserves? The tournament in Antwerp certainly left its mark, including mental ones. Against Francisco Cerundolo and Hubert Hurkacz, the drama went in the direction of the 29-year-old from Lower Austria, against Sebastian Korda the almost uncanny series of Thiems broke in tie-breaks in decision sets. Dominic Thiem had won four of them since his comeback in Marbella and lost none.
So now Vienna and the prospect of moving even closer to the top 100 after a possible win against Tommy Paul. But also to arrange a meeting with Daniil Medvedev. The Russian, seeded in first place at the Erste Bank Open, must first win against Nikoloz Basilashvili. There are also some question marks behind Medvedev's appearance in Vienna - after all, Dominic Thiem's successor as the US Open winner became a father for the first time a few days ago. Maybe the priorities have shifted a bit.
The last meeting between Thiem and Medvedev has not been in almost two years: At the final of the ATP Finals in London, the Russian prevailed in three tight sentences. In front of empty ranks, who can remember. In Vienna, the hall would certainly shake in a match Thiem vs. Medvedev.