Erste Bank Open: Medvedev and Sinner sovereign, Tsitsipas wrestles Struff
While Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner made it into the round of the last 16 at the Erste Bank Open, Stefanos Tsitsipas had to fight much harder against Jan-Lennard Struff . But the Greeks were also able to prevail in the end.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Oct 28, 2020, 05:58 pm
By Michael Rothschädl from the Wiener Stadthalle
After Jürgen Melzer and Edouard Roger-Vasselin scored an opening victory at the start of the Erste Bank Open matchday , it was time for Daniil Medvedev to make his first appearance on Austrian soil. The sixth in the world rankings had to deal with the lucky loser Jason Jung in the first round, who had moved into the field for Alex de Minaur at short notice.
Daniil Medvedev started this match solid as usual, kept the ball in the game with good length and broke early in the match. As a result, the Russian slowed down a little and was almost punished for it - but was able to fend off both break chances of the boys to 4: 4. For the first time, the Russian, who sneaked a little apathetically across the square for long stretches of the first set, got louder, increased the intensity again and came on the break to win the set 6-3.
Medvedev with "great start"
The sixth in the world rankings should also have a dream start in the second round, although he had to work hard for it. Jason Jung had a break chance in the first game of the set, Medvedev thwarted with strong serves and came with a very fine hand to break a little later himself. The Florida-born boy had the opportunity to create a prompt rebreak in the following game, but Medvedev again showed strong nerves in the tricky situations. The 31-year-old's resistance was broken, Medvedev got another break and after a little more than an hour used his fifth match point with a slam-dunk volley, which is well worth seeing.
"It was a great start. There are always a few surprises in the first round, which is why it is just important to win the first match," said the Russian after his success. The 24-year-old is very satisfied with the conditions at the tournament. "Great food - probably the best on the tour, great hotel, great organization - can only report positive things," said the sixth in the world rankings, ennobling the organizers of the Erste Bank Open.
Struff gets set one
Immediately after Medvedev, the man who was only recently able to oust the Russian from fifth place in the world rankings should step on the Center Court: Stefanos Tsitsipas. It was also the Greek's first appearance in Austria, but the task in round one with Jan-Lennard Struff was a much more difficult one. With the Warsteiner, the fifth in the world rankings had had such a tough fight in the past - also and especially because the 22-year-old did not always have a suitable answer to the German's serve strength.
This is also the case in the first sentence of today's meeting, both players literally strolled through their service games, the few break chances that should be seen in the first round, both Struff and Tsitsipas were able to thwart with flying colors. So a tie-break had to make the decision, in which Jan-Lennard Struff slowly but surely seized control, made the mini-break to 4: 2 with a dream return and, after a sparkling clean net advance, brought set one to a dry sheet.
Tsitsipas with longer breath
In the second round, the picture from the first sentence continued. Both players acted almost untouchable when they served their own, served up to a score of 4: 3 without any problems. But then Jan-Lennard Struff should afford the first lack of concentration in this game - and promptly be punished with the break. The Warsteiner knocked again in the next service game with a 15:30, but left two promising chances and conceded the set compensation.
Now the balance of power in this match should slowly turn in favor of the Greek, who benefited from a completely screwed up service game Struffs and also made the break in the decisive round. Struff, on the other hand, no longer had any access to the service games of the fifth in the world ranking list and his dear need to get his own through. Tsitsipas left a break ball to 4: 1 unused, but finally served the match after almost two hours to 6: 7 (3). 6: 3 and 6: 4 success.
Sinner confirms top form
At the NextGen Court, at the same time as the duel between Jan-Lennard Struff and Stefanos Tsitsipas, a match took place that would have deserved the attention of a larger audience, as two of the most promising young hopes met with Jannik Sinner and Casper Ruud. Again, no player was able to make a break in the first round, which is why the quick decision had to provide clarity. In this, Sinner pressed the gas and took the lead with 7: 2.
That should give the South Tyrolean boost, Sinner got the first break of the game in set two, confidently confirmed and quickly moved away 3-0. Although the young Norwegian should make the comeback to make it 3: 3 again, nothing could change the outcome of the match. In Ruuds' next service game, Sinner was ready to create another break, went 5: 3 in the front and served to 7: 6 (2) and 6: 3 success. The young Italian is now facing Russian Andrey Rublev in a real big game. The winner could meet Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals.
In the night session, Novak Djokovic and Borna Coric will play their second round duel before Pablo Carreno Busta and Kevin Anderson finish the game day in the Wiener Stadthalle. Local hero Dominic Thiem and his compatriot Jurij Rodionov are on duty on Thursday.