Australian Open: Thiem saves energy for beloved audiences

Around 30 degrees, Thiem only had to shake a little in the first set with two break balls against Koepfer in 6: 4 6: 0 6: 2, then he took control and consequently was satisfied with his game. “I found a very good time here in Australia for the first time. I knew again where to go back and I improved my position on the field a lot, ”said the 17-time winner of the tournament after his success in 99 minutes.

Unlike the year before, when he only made five sets against Australian Alex Bolt in the second round after a 2: 2 deficit, Thiem is in the third round without dropping a set. “At a Grand Slam, it is certainly always important to save energy as much as possible. But it may also be that one day you don’t feel as good as today and you still have to overcome the distance, ”says Thiem.

Don’t be afraid of long rallies

And as one of the fittest players on the tour, who once again impressed with tremendous agility and speed on Wednesday, he need not fear long matches. “For that you do all the physical training in preparation. I hope it continues like this on Friday ”, expects Thiem, who is already playing his 28th Grand Slam tournament.

Now you will probably face your strongest opponent over the course of the tournament. Kyrgios is also sure of the support of the viewers. On Wednesday, a total of 19,900 officially entered the system, more than in the first two main days of competition. For their compatriot, they held out at the “John Cain Arena” until after 11pm local time before Kyrgios continued after 3:25 hours of play. He was 0: 1 and 1: 2 in sets behind, in the fourth set he had fought two match points as a setback.

Kyrgios: “One of the craziest games”

Finally, the 25-year-old turned the game around with the wind in favor of the cheers from the stands, in the end there was a success of 5: 7 6: 4 3: 6 7: 6 (7/2) 6: 4 Against Thiem, the night session is again quite safe and therefore a friendlier time for tennis fans in Europe, from the morning. “I honestly don’t know how I did it,” Kyrgios said while on the court. “That was one of the craziest games I’ve ever won.”

Kyrgios didn’t want to watch the duel with Thiem too much. “He is one of the best players in the world,” he said. “But I will focus on tomorrow’s double with (Thanasi, note) Kokkinakis.” By the way, it will also be against an Austrian, namely Julian Knowle on his return. The Vorarlberg competes alongside South African Lloyd Harris. Oliver March from Styria and Philipp Oswald from Vorarlberg will each have their first double round on Thursday.

Not so happy with the fast seats at Melbourne Park. “If I could choose, I would be for last year’s venues,” he said. “It’s pretty fast, I said it a few days ago. It is perhaps one of the fastest Grand Slam tournaments I have ever played. We have to get used to it first ”. According to Thiem’s ​​manager Herwig Straka, who obtained this information from tournament director Craig Tiley, the course was made faster so that the balls would not “come out” so they would last longer.