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Qualifier Rodionov (ATP No. 169) makes his big debut against French hometown hero Jeremy Chardy (ATP No. 64) in the second game after 11am, Dennis Novak (ATP No. 91) against German number six. US Open finalist Alexander Zverev (ATP No. 7) the fourth. Both games on the Suzanne Lenglen court can be seen live on ORF Sport + and on the live broadcast.
The lower half of the grid begins for men, the upper half for women, although not quite. Since Thiem and Haas are in these halves, Austria’s number one player is likely to have to contest his first-round duties against Croatian Marin Cilic and Taiwanese Hsieh Su-Wei on Monday (Thiem play live on ORF1) .
“New wave of enthusiasm”
Lead rookie Rodionov is keenly aware of what Thiem’s successes bring about, especially at home. The 21-year-old attributes his successful rating to his accomplishments. “It’s great motivation to see him win,” said the Austrian bass player after his three-set win on Friday against Styria’s Sebastian Ofner in an interview for the Roland Garros website. “Thanks to him, there is a great new wave of enthusiasm for tennis in Austria.”
But he still has to work for his own successes. “I have to play my own game, improve and fight.” With this attitude he arranged his great debut. “It is still unreal to describe it.” The duel with Ofner was special. “When you play against a compatriot, you don’t want to lose. There is always a friendly rivalry with someone you train with on the same courts. I was very relieved and very glad I did it. “
Chardy twice in the round of 16 in Paris
Now is the first time against Chardy, 33. The Frenchman naturally has much more experience, the best results of the world number 64. at the French Open, he participated in the round of 16 in 2008 and 2015. This year Chardy has only achieved three victories, after the resumption of the game he was still not very successful. At the US Open he lost to Russian Andrej Rublew in the first round, earlier in the Cincinnati tournament or in Rome he lost in the first and second qualifying rounds.
Difficulty for the winner of the US Open Thiem
The newly crowned US Open Thiem winner was not lucky enough to be lucky enough to win the French Open in Paris. Third in the world rankings from Lower Austria, who was twice in the final of the Sand Grand Slam tournament at Roland Garros, has to face the strong Croatian Marin Cilic in the first round. “It’s really tough, the draw couldn’t have been worse,” Thiem said.
The last match against Cilic in the third round of the US Open in New York (6: 2 6: 2 3: 6 6: 3) was really close, Thiem said Friday at a press conference in the run-up to the City Hall tournament. from Vienna via a live link from Paris. . “Even though it was in four sets, we stayed just below fifth,” said the 27-year-old, for whom “there is hardly any opponent more disagreeable” than Cilic.
“He is an absolute champion, he has won everything and believes in every game one hundred percent in victory. I have to be there from the beginning, ”Thiem repeated the statements he had made before the game against the 2014 US Open winner at Flushing Meadows.
A new final against Nadal is not possible
If Thiem is in top form in Paris, then of course he is a candidate for the title. However, a replay of the 2018 and 2019 finals against the “King of the clay court” Rafael Nadal cannot occur because of the draw. Nadal would be a rival in the semifinals. Thiem is not particularly upset. “Well, it was clear from the beginning: if I want to reach the final, I have to beat Novak Djokovic or Nadal in the semi-final. Now it’s only Nadal in my field, or me in his, or rather, but the road to get there is really long, ”said the 17-time winner of the tournament.
At the moment, the focus is entirely on the duel with Cilic. “Now I’m just trying to prepare really well, do some good training sessions and then be completely there.”
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