French Open: Rodionov outshines himself on debut

After Rodionov’s remarkable success, the first Sunday of the French Open is not over from the Austrian point of view. Dennis Novak (ATP-91.) He can still do it today (live on ORF Sport +) with the number six finalist of the German US Open, Alexander Zverev (ATP-7.). The game on the Suzanne Lenglen court can also be seen live on ORF Sport + and on the live broadcast. On Monday, US Open winner Dominic Thiem (second match after 11 am) faces Croatian Marin Cilic, Barbara Haas faces Taiwanese Hsieh Su-wei.

Rodionov was surprisingly nervous on his Grand Sam debut. Although the 21-year-old, who had beaten fellow Styrian Sebastian Ofner in the third and final qualifying round, started cautiously. In wind, humidity, and cool temperatures around 8 degrees, its engine only ran at full speed later. He fought the first stop ball in the first service game with a touching stopball, the second with an Ace. Rodionov won the game, but remained in trouble. Chardy (ATP number 64), twelve years older than him, seemed relaxed and as if he had everything under control.

Chardy had no problems with his own serve, unlike Novak, who also struggled afterward. However, he did score point for point and challenged the Frenchman despite serving problems on the slow surface, although Chardy had a clear advantage, especially on the second serve. A brief break in line at 3: 4 from Rodionov’s point of view didn’t change anything. Chardy used the first break opportunity after the restart to make the 5: 3. Chardy then had to fend off two breakballs, but Rodionov lost the set 3: 6 after 43 minutes.

Growing hopes

In the second, the service continued. Rodionov missed the important break opportunity in the second set at 2: 1 and 40:30 with a poorly placed forehand, Chardy brought the game to dryness and then developed two break opportunities for himself. Used the second, Rodionov fought. Would he come back? In fact, he rebreaked at 4: 4 by mail return. With that, however, Rodionov’s gunpowder literally ran out. In the next service game, he even gave up to zero, while Chardy served with relative ease with the second ace to lead the set 2-0.

Despite all efforts, Rodionov initially lagged behind. In the first service game, he had to throw two break balls to make it 1-0. His problems with the first serve ran like a thread through the game. But out of nowhere he took Chardy’s serve and at the same time made it 2-0. Rodionov, a protégé of coach Wolfgang Thiem, took a deep breath. Fans waited in vain for a turnaround, but it remained exciting. The regrowth followed immediately. Alternating break and rebreak, this unusual set continued through 5: 5 and into the tie-break, which Rodionov won with the first set ball after defending two match points.

Unstoppable return

Rodionov reared up and climbed. At 1: 1 he used the second break ball to make it 2: 1 in the fourth set. As Chardy staggered, Rodionov looked more and more confident. But Rodionov made the game difficult. Due to his own mistakes, he allowed Chardy to break back to 3: 3, but kept fighting and took Chardy’s serve again. With his own serve, Rodionov subsequently confirmed the lead and at the same time walked away to 5: 3 in the fourth set. After 3:09, the equalization of the set for Rodionov took place.

The 21-year-old took the momentum in the deciding set. With the break at 1-0, he put Chardy, who was now completely out of place, under pressure early on and walked away to 2-0. Apparently the French had nothing else to oppose Rodionov’s now powerful game and initially they had no chance of his recovery. Rodionov, on the other hand, outplayed himself, scored some spectacular points from the baseline and at the net as well and profited mostly from the mistakes of Chardy, who suddenly had a chance for a rebreak after Rodinov he had missed two match points at 5: 4, and even used the second.

Rodionov shouldn’t have the answer: break up again. After the fourth match point (double fault in the third) Rodionov conceded the rebreak again – the tension was at its peak. Chardy or Rodionov, who would keep their nerves now? Physically, they both seemed to be at their limit. Every point was fiercely contested. At 7: 6 from Chardy’s point of view, Rodionov was under particular pressure for the first time with his own serve. The Austrian responded and finally took the longest breath. The break to 9: 8 was the preliminary decision. After the seventh match point, Rodionov was finally able to cheer.