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Austria’s participation in the French Open in Paris doubled on Friday. In addition to Dominic Thiem and Dennis Novak, Jurij Rodionov is also present after qualifying in the main competition of a Grand Slam tournament. Barbara Haas was the only Austrian woman to make the main draw. For the 24-year-old, it is the third major participation, but the premiere in Paris.
Rodionov, 21, prevailed in the purely Austrian duel with Sebastian Ofner 6: 4 3: 6 6: 3 and can now make his debut on the big stage of tennis. Number four after Thiem, Novak and Ofner in the national standings will face France’s Jeremy Chardy and thus a hometown hero in his main round debut. At number 64 in the ATP rankings, Chardy, 33, is the clear favorite against the twelve-year-old Lower Austria.
Haas, who eliminated compatriot Julia Grabher in the second qualifying round, placed in the main competition against Elena-Gabriela Ruse. The 24-year-old Austrian beat the Romanian after 1:38 hours and also a shower in the first set with 6: 4.7: 5. Haas is in Paris for the first time and for the third time on the main field in one of the four tournaments. Grand Slam. Your opponent in the first round is Hsie Su-wei. Taiwanese women are currently ranked 63rd in the world, 80 spots ahead of Haas.
Haas had recently made it to the main US Open competition thanks to many rejections: there had been no qualifying in New York. He then had to bow clearly to later runner-up Viktoria Asarenka (BLR) with 1: 6, 2: 6. In the first major “main draw” appearance he qualified four years ago in New York, but at the time he was below Timea Babos (HUN). Haas is now fighting in Paris for his first major round win at a major tournament.
Rodionov defeats Ofner on the third attempt
In the match between the two “world ranking neighbors” Ofner (167th) and Rodionov (169th), Rodionov initially had the lead, but the first set lasted almost an hour. After Ofner tied to win the second set, Rodionov took the lead in the deciding set with an early break to 2-0 and a successful service game at 3-0.
Ofner did not return to the game after the rain interruption. After a total of 2:18 hours, Rodionov used his first match point to win after falling to his knees and clenching both fists. It was Lower Austria’s first victory in the third meeting with Styria.
Qualified on fourth attempt
On the fourth attempt after the Australian and French Open and Wimbledon (all in 2019) Rodionov survived for the first time through qualification in one of the four major tennis tournaments. Ofner, on the other hand, missed his second major participation in the clay court classic, which was postponed to early fall due to the CoV pandemic. At his 2017 Wimbledon debut, the Styrian made a sensational third round.
Rodionov’s relief was great. “In the last game, I had a heart rate of around 220 the whole time. Before each hit I would say to myself: ‘Keep calm, stay calm’. When I won match point, I automatically fell to my knees because all the pressure was gone from my body. I was super happy ”. Rodionov also thanked Javier Frana. Rodionov feels very comfortable with the former Argentine player as a tour coach under the protection of Wolfgang Thiem. “I also call him my mentor because he is a great person on and off the court,” Rodionov said.
