First Bank Open: Berrettini fights Dimitrov, Khachanov profits from task
The first two quarter-finalists of the Erste Bank Open 2019 are Matteo Berrettini and Karen Khachanov .
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Oct 23, 2019, 10:39 pm
by Nikolaus Fink from the Wiener Stadthalle
Those who make it to the semi-finals at the US Open are by no means sure of their place in the top eight at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. One could well describe the situation before the second round match between Matteo Berrettini and Grigor Dimitrov - provided one wants to have as many clicks as possible on his story.
As well known in the tennis scene, the New York sensational runs of the two almost bordered on sporting miracles. Especially for Grigor Dimitrov, nothing came together before the appearance in the Big Apple, but also Berrettini had returned from an injury shortly before the last Grand Slam event of the year.
Berrettini on the best way to London
One and a half months later, the Bulgarian is at least again among the top 30 in the world, Berrettini attacks this week even the top ten and is well on the way to the ATP Finals to London. In the Austrian capital, the Roman now wants to take another step in this direction.
Berrettini has already overcome two small interim steps in Vienna: The 23-year-old kept the upper hand in a high-class and dramatic match against Dimitrov with 7: 6 (5) and 7: 6 (1) and thus qualified first Player for the quarterfinals. So the dream of the ATP Finals is still alive.
skywien
Karen Khachanov and Marton Fucsovics were second in the final game of the day. Khachanov did not let himself be disturbed by the loud support of the numerous Hungarian supporters and won sentence one confidently with 6: 3.
In the second round but Fucsovics went with great cheers with 4: 1 in front. The world ranking-67. However, he did not bring the lead to the finish line and even had to take pills from his point of view due to apparent discomfort at the score of 5: 4. Mainly responsible for the subsequent break and the concomitant sentence profit but were rather unnecessary mistakes of Khachanov as the supposed "miracle pills".
Fucsovics has to give up
All in all, Fucsovics seemed to be at the end of his game, despite winning the second set - no wonder, after all, the 27-year-old had already fought his way through qualifying. Khachanov knew how to use this and took off his opponent's serve to make it 1-0 and 4-1.
Immediately thereafter Fucsovics had to give up Khachanov meets in the quarterfinals now on Diego Schwartzman or Sam Querrey.