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Big surprise at the end of the first day of the Erste Bank Open. Local hero Yuri Rodionov defeated world number 12. Denis Shapovalov after an impressive performance with 6: 4 and 7: 5.
by Michael Rothschädl
Last edit: October 26, 2020, 9:23 PM
By Michael Rothschädl of the Wiener Stadthalle
“I will give my last jersey to make everyone proud,” said Jurij Rodionov in view of his first appearance in the main draw at the Erste Bank Open. In this field of participants he is an outsider against all players, also and especially against opponent Denis Shapovalov, who is also about to qualify for the first time for the ATP finals of the eight best players of the season in Vienna.
Consequently, Denis Shapovalov started this game ambitiously, going from the baseline at the usual high speed. And so he forced Rodionov to take many risks himself. He risked a lot, especially with service in the early stages of the game – he did well in the first game with an ace on the second serve, but the Austrian made two double errors in the next service game – Shapovalov made the break early.
Rodionov creates change
There were no signs of giving up on the young Austrian, who found some half chances in the next two games, but couldn’t take them. Things got better in the Canadian’s next service game, Rodionov took the break and took the lead a little later with his own serve. To make matters worse, the Austrian also knew how to put accents in the next service game of his Canadian rival and found the ball stopped. When the Nuremberg native also knew how to transform it, the Wiener Stadthalle turned upside down again that day.
Rodionov took this momentum with him in the second set, played very aggressively and kept looking for a way to the net. His opponent Shapovalov, on the other hand, acted extremely insecure, especially on the second serve, scattering double errors over and over again throughout the game. In the second half, both players took a much lower risk than in the first set when they drew theirs, and there were no break opportunities for Jurij Rodionov to score 6: 5.
But then Denis Shapovalov’s nerves flailed. The Canadian started this service game with a terrible volley error and faced 0:30 after a double error. After another mistake from world number 12. Suddenly there were three match points for Jurij Rodionov, who also knew how to use the first. This is the biggest victory in the Austrian’s still young career.
Dominic Thiem in action on Tuesday
“It is an incredible feeling, it filled me with joy when I saw the draw to be able to play against such a good player. It was an incredible experience for me, I would like to thank everyone who was involved,” said the Austrian in the on-court interview. . “It started like the train, I couldn’t find my rhythm. But then I noticed that the level difference wasn’t that big, so I wanted to tease him a bit. Towards the end of the first round I noticed that he doesn’t feel very well and he thought to me that If I ever want to win against one of the top 20 players in Vienna, today is a good day. ”
Tomorrow Tuesday the number one in Austria will also join the tournament. In the third match after 2:00 pm Dominic Thiem, who will go to the Erste Bank Open as the defending champion, meets Vitaliy Sachko, who was at Kei Nishikori’s field. Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka will also serve at the Wiener Stadthalle on Tuesday.
Click here to watch the Erste Bank Open draw.
