[ad_1]
Dennis Novak, 27, narrowly missed his second round of 16 at the Erste Bank Open after the one in 2017. Basically his 7: 6 (2), 4: 6.6: 7 (6) loss on Monday for the afternoon at the Wiener Stadthalle in the first game with the South African was a great missed opportunity, as he lost three match points after a good performance. However, his 34-year-old opponent, the winner of the 2018 Vienna final, took his first opportunity to move up.
Novak was naturally disappointed after the 2:45 hour game, as he had solved dangerous situations several times in the match and defended himself from seven break balls. At the crucial moment, however, nerves and luck lacked, and he missed the third match point with a double error. While Lower Austria left disappointed, Anderson was relieved. “I played one point at a time, but it was a really difficult game. This is a very special tournament for me, ”he said.
On the home side of the hero, Vienna’s balance does not seem so rosy, which hurts even more in a home tournament. The third game ball in particular was still buzzing in his head afterwards, especially the second serve: “I had in mind that it would go down on the second.” So Novak took more chances. “Unfortunately that went into the pants.” Returning to the game, he could not fail, from the baseline he was the best player.
Good start for Novak
Novak started the match well and convinced in the first set with a strong serve. Until 5: 6 it was without breakball for both servers, then the until then safest Novak faced two of them. He defended himself against both and with it the loss of a set. In the tie break, Novak was clearly the best. In the second set, Anderson made the first break of the match at 3: 2, another at 5: 2. Novak managed a rebreak at 3: 5, Anderson served to equalize the set.
Before the third set, the South African took a medical break to treat his right knee. When a glass bulb broke, the track had to be cleaned. After Novak defended three break balls, servers on both sides had the same sovereignty as in the first set. But again Novak had to fend off a break ball at 5: 5 before he entered the tie break again against his friend Dominic Thiem, this time in favor of Anderson.
“Sinking”
Coach Julian Knowle told protégé Novak: “You can’t blame him for anything in the game. But it has been seen that tennis is not only decided by the blows, but also in the head. Dennis has the potential of a top 50 player. I look forward to more. There are too many gaps in the year in which it has slack ”. In the end, Novak remained positive: “The more even matches I have, the better I can handle them. I have to make sure I take advantage of my opportunities. “
Later on Monday, Jurij Rodionov will also play Canadian Denis Shapovalov. Defending champion Dominic Thiem will start the singles on Tuesday and will not face Kei Nishikori (JPN) before 5.30pm.
