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Andrej Rublew dictated the week of the Erste Bank Open 500 tournament at will at the Wiener Stadthalle. The tennis world number eight, who had defeated Austrian star Dominic Thiem in the quarterfinals, capped off his impressive performance with a 6: 4, 6: 4 win over Lorenzo Sonego (Ita).
Statistical data support the strength of Russian Rublev. The 23-year-old did not lose a single set and did not yield a single one of his 38 service games.
“This victory is very special to me,” Rublew said. “I have Austrian blood in me. My grandmother, who sadly passed away recently, was born here, but moved to Russia when she was little. Her sister lives in Vienna,” said the champion, who thus secured a place in the ATP final. the top eight players this year has been secured. Thiem should also get in on the action at the end of the season in London, where he was only stopped in the final by Stefanos Tsitsipas (Gre) last year.
Thiem does not play in Paris-Bercy
Ahead of the event at the O2-Arena, which starts on November 15, the 27-year-old Lichtenwör-ther will take a mandatory break and will not compete in the Masters 1000 in Paris-Bercy from today. A large, painful blister on the ball of the right foot prevents its use. “This is a hematoma of tissue in the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe with possible irritation of the periosteum,” explained Thiem’s physical therapist Alex Stober.
“The fact is that Dominic was so affected in the game against Rublew that a third set definitely would not have been possible, with no permanent damage for the next game and also for Paris and London,” said Thiem’s coach Herwig Straka, who He also said He is the director of the tournament in Vienna.
Grazers’ conclusion is positive despite considerable audience restrictions. “We have overcome well the special challenge of strict safety and hygiene regulations in times of the crown crisis,” Straka said. A less than several hundred thousand euros is inevitable. “If we face the same situation in 2021, we could not do the tournament again for financial reasons,” added the Styrian.
The contract with title sponsor Erste Bank has been extended until 2021, and there is still one name on the wish list: Rafael Nadal. “He is the only one of these great players who has never been to Vienna,” said Straka, who did not speak highly of Novak Djokovic after his quarter-finals against Sonego.
Djokovic saw his mission accomplished in Vienna because he will finish the year as world number one: “I did what I had to do. I have no problem with defeat.” Straka didn’t like that: “I find those statements expendable. Even if you believe it, you don’t say it at any press conference.” (Alex)
Vienna tournament director Herwig Straka in the “People” section page 4
