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Tennis
Dominic Thiem reached the top sixteen of the Erste Bank Open on Tuesday. The US Open Champion won his first match at the Wiener Stadthalle against rookie Vitali Satschko with more effort than expected and after a playing time of 1:46 hours with 6: 4 7: 5. For a successful title defense, Thiem you will need a raise.
Thiem was too flawed over long distances against the compromised and unexpectedly strong Ukrainian. The Austrian number one gave a clear advantage in both sets against the 23-year-old Satschko, who is ranked 529 in the world rankings and slipped into the main competition as a “lucky loser.” In the end, Thiem managed to make the decisive breaks. In the next round, the 27-year-old from Lower Austria will face Chilean Cristian Garin, who defeated Swiss Stan Wawrinka.
“It is an incredible feeling to be back home. It is one of the most important tournaments for me. The mood was sensational. I watched Satschko’s games a bit. Everyone who is there can play tennis very well. For me it was the first game after Paris. I had to shut down the system completely. It’s never easy to play the first game, especially against an opponent I’ve never played against. I must have quit the service too often. But I’m satisfied, I enjoyed it, ”said Thiem.
Thiem takes the first hurdle in Vienna
The most beautiful points of the duel were played in the last game. In the end, Dominic Thiem was the winner against Vitali Satschko.
Thiem gives a 5: 1 advantage without control
At the beginning of the game, the difference of 526 places in the world ranking was still remarkable. Satschko was overwhelmed with the situation of his first match in an ATP main competition and Thiem’s blows. The Ukrainian made some avoidable mistakes, Thiem quickly walked away 3-0. With a backhand winner, the Austrian number one made another break to 5: 1 and faced a quick lead.
The sentence, however, took a curious turn. Thiem lost his tension at the clear lead and gave the Ukrainian a break to 2: 5 with two double errors and a volley. Satschko, who impressed above all with his serve (84 percent with the first serve), sensed his chance to come back. With the second break in a row, the flagrant underdog suddenly returned to the game and even had two balls to equalize 5-5. Thiem turned the game around and scored his first ball with a forehand in the 41st minute.
Sentence One Highlights
Dominic Thiem took command early against Witali Satschko, but then had to fight for the lead.
High intensity duel
Satschko had liked the game, played without worries, and brought Thiem out again early in the second set. The winner of the US Open achieved the rebreak immediately. With a double error, the Ukrainian gave up his serve for the fifth time and subsequently fell 4-1 down. The duel only apparently finally took the expected course. Decency to play victory easily at home, Thiem continued to act too impatiently and incorrectly.
Satschko resisted, gratefully accepting the Austrian’s gifts, and with three games in a row managed to equalize at 4: 4. He had long gotten used to Thiem’s pace, continued to play bravely and prepared for defeat. But it did not reach the tie-break. In what was now an intense game with great rallies, Thiem resolved two match points, of which he took advantage of the second with a perfect backhand.
