[ad_1]
Thiem’s conqueror Andrej Rublew, but also his latest opponent, Lorenzo Sonego, could write a bit of history at the Erste Bank Open on Sunday. The 23-year-old eighth in the world rankings would be the first Russian winner in the tournament’s nearly 50-year history. “Only” the Italian Lorenzo Sonego stands in his way in the final of the Erste Bank Open, which is endowed with 1,551 million euros. Also from Italy there has not been a champion in Vienna so far.
The lucky loser continued his streak after the sensational win over Novak Djokovic the day before. Rublew is by no means undeserved in the final, but for the third time in the course of the tournament he benefited from a player’s disability. After Jannik Sinner gave up after three games in the round of 16 and Dominic Thiem, who suffered pain in the second set, in the quarter-finals, Kevin Anderson was also at a disadvantage on Saturday. Due to a thigh injury, the 2018 South African Vienna winner had to surrender in 6: 4.4: 1 for Rublew.
Then it was Sonego’s turn again at City Hall, who after the previous matchday’s sensational 6: 2.6: 1 success over world number one Novak Djokovic missed a set in the fourth match of the main competition. He stopped Daniel Evans, who had eliminated Austria’s No. 3 Jurij Rodionov, and Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) en route to the semi-finals, with a 6: 3.6: 4 success.
300 important points for the fight for London
In the second qualifying round, Sonego failed in three sets against Aljaz Bedene (SLO) and only entered the main competition as a lucky underdog. “It’s amazing. I’m so happy. It wasn’t easy after yesterday,” Sonego said cheerfully in broken English. Like Rublew for Russia, Sonego for Italy could also become Vienna’s first winner for his homeland. He is also the second runner-up for the Italian city hall since Gianluca Pozzi in 1992.
Rublew is the clear favorite for his fifth ATP title of the season after Doha, Adelaide, Hamburg and St. Petersburg. He will remain eighth in the ATP rankings, but has already scored an important 300 points in the fight for one of the last two London innings in Vienna. “I have a great team and friends around me, that’s why I have such good results. That is one of the keys,” Rublew said Saturday. Despite four titles so far and already 38 victories in 2020 (only Djokovic has more with 39), the Russian’s creed is always: “There are so many things that I can still improve.” Why do you keep saying that? “I want to reach my limit,” explains his thinking.
Sonego, already number 42, will be at least 32 as of Monday. If he even wins the title, he rises to 27th place. For Sonego it would be his second ATP title overall after Antalya 2019, for Rublew his seventh overall.
The two finalists will meet for the first time on the ATP Tour, only at the Challenger level there was a 6: 3.7: 5 victory against Rublews against Sonego in Cortina in 2016. On Sunday 500 ATP counters are at stake and 105,240 euros for the winner . As a finalist you have 85,000 euros or 300 insurance points. (apa)
