Stefanos Tsitsipas was dealt a tough draw at the Erste Bank Open but managed to beat 2020 U.S. Open champion and Vienna fan favorite Dominic Thiem 7-6(5), 6-4 during first-round action on Tuesday evening.
Tsitsipas prevailed after one hour and 58 minutes to set up a meeting with qualifier Tomas Machac.
Despite falling in straight sets, Thiem had plenty of chances and played his part in a whole host of entertaining points that thrilled the Austrian crowd. The 30-year-old twice led by a mini-break in the first-set tiebreaker but could not seal the deal. In the second set, Thiem had three break points with Tsitsipas serving at 0-1 in a game that went to eight deuces. However, the seventh-ranked Greek ended up holding at that proved to be the final turning point. Tsitsipas immediately seized a break of his own for 2-1 and from there he served it out easily the rest of the way.
Other winners on Tuesday in Vienna were Machac, Andrey Rublev, Tommy Paul, and Frances Tiafoe.
Wednesday’s schedule is headlined by Jannik Sinner vs. Ben Shelton and Daniil Medvedev vs. Arthur Fils.
good match