Dominic Thiem is next in line to potentially qualify for the World Tour Finals, but he still has a ways to go as he heads into a second-round Vienna date with Viktor Troicki on Thursday. David Ferrer and Joao Sousa are also in action.
(3) Dominic Thiem vs. Viktor Troicki
Thiem and Troicki will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they battle for a place in the Erste Bank Open quarterfinals on Thursday. Their only previous contest came two seasons ago on the clay courts of Gstaad, where Troicki prevailed 7-6(4), 6-4. Fast forward to 2016, however, and it is Thiem’s game that has soared to new heights–to the extent that he will likely make a debut appearance at the World Tour Finals next month. The ninth-ranked Austrian, who is No. 7 in current race to London, boasts four titles as part of his 57 match victories. He has cooled off dramatically–especially from a physical standpoint–since the French Open, but he managed to destroy compatriot Gerald Melzer 6-0, 6-3 on Tuesday.
Troicki advanced through his Vienna opener in much different fashion, scraping past Kevin Anderson 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 in two hours and 17 minutes. The 28th-ranked Serb is 32-27 for the year with a title in Sydney and a runner-up performance in Sofia–both in the very early stages. A less impressive fall swing has been plagued by opening-match losses in Beijing and Moscow, although Troicki did pull off a second-round upset of Rafael Nadal in Shanghai. Thiem appears to be inspired in front his home fans and he should not have too much trouble continuing his march toward London.
Pick: Thiem in 2
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Joao Sousa vs. (5) David Ferrer
Ferrer and Sousa are both coming off victories via retirement; Ferrer played just five games (led 3-2) against Kyle Edmund on Tuesday, while Sousa was dominating Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 3-0 when the Uruguayan called it quits. The result is just a second career meeting between Ferrer and Sousa, with the Portuguese player having won their only previous encounter 6-2, 7-6(6) three years ago on the indoor hard courts of Kuala Lumpur. Sousa went on to capture the title that week and his second of two ATP triumphs also came during the fall swing, last season in Valencia. The stretch run of 2016 has been a bit of a different story for the world No. 34, who is just 5-5 in tournament competition since the U.S. Open–with two of his five wins coming by retirement. Prior to this week, Sousa suffered first-round exits in Shanghai and Antwerp.
A disappointing season has Ferrer struggling to stay inside the top 20 at 19th in the rankings. The 34-year-old Spaniard owns a modest 34-21 record, which includes no titles. He does not appear to be wrapping up the 2016 campaign with any kind of momentum, either, as a decent semifinal performance in Beijing was followed up by opening-match losses in Shanghai (to Feliciano Lopez) and Antwerp (to Kyle Edmund). This should be an entertaining battle between two hard-nosed competitors who play a similar style of tennis, but a greater sense of urgency with Ferrer may push the veteran across the finish line.
Pick: Ferrer in 3
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I see it exactly the same but which of these two matches have higher possibility I can not tell.
Thiem in 2. Home advantage and against G. Melzer he looked very mobile and consistent. Good sign that the break from the Asian leg gave him the rest he needed.
Sousa in 3. Ferrer hasn’t been in the best form and I don’t think this surface is going to help his cause. Based on the matches I’ve witnessed, it looks like the ball moves quite fast in Vienna and that plays to Sousa’s strengths. Sousa’s 1-0 H2H in straight sets at Kuala Lumpur makes me feel a bit more confident in this pick as well.
Ferrer in three and Thiem in two
Ditto
I think Edmund surprised Ferrer and while he ended up losing he did elevate his game a bit and push hard to win that match. I think a bit of extra drive will help him get past Sousa in this.
I don’t like basing Thiem’s resurgence on just his match against Melzer. I like him in two but I’m nervous.
Don’t trust Thiem at all in Vienna. Only picked him to beat Gerald. Hope I’m wrong but he’s off to a shaky start. Maybe the home crowd can help. But…I’m watching Thiem struggle to hold serve and it’s a double break for Viktor 3-0.
4-0 Troicki. Poor home crowd, first Jurgen and now Dominic starting poorly. Come on Thiem! Finally gets a game.
Really spiraling out of control. Maybe being home is too much distraction, but honestly I haven’t seen Thiem play well in months
That’s why I picked him cautiously only to win one match here – he hasn’t played well in months. And his record in Vienna ….it’s not good (can’t remember exactly right now). Tends to lose early. Lost first round to Jerzy Janowicz last year.
You’d think he could turn things around one of these years.
I think I’m guilty of putting too much faith in him when most of the performances I’ve witnessed that made me a fan were on clay or grass. It looks like there is not much on a hardcourt to set him apart. : (
Yeah and maybe he doesn’t like indoor hc? especially at home?
Big improvement, serving. Easy hold. Come on get the break now, Dominic!
Thiem can’t break even with multiple chances
Nope couldn’t even hold serve that time. 6-5 Troicki serving for the match.
Just seems like he is not a top 50 player on hardcourt. Troicki is playing well but a top-10 player should clear him in straight sets. I think this slump won’t end until clay court season. Look for some good value in upsets vs him early in the Aussie Open I guess.
Yeah, that wasn’t the Thiem we loved last spring. Maybe he’ll perform better in Paris? Or, not destined to be good on indoor hc. I hope he’s out of the slump by AO — at least winning more. But you might be right.
Their goes down in straight sets to Troicki.
Thiem – OUT.
It means that Rafa will remain No. 7 in the Race until the Paris Masters.
^^^’Theim’ Blame autocorrect.
Incredible what Thiem couldn’t make… so many break points. I’m so upset -.-
London could be brutal for him
Murray drops the first set against Simon.
Theim is trying far too hard to live up to expectation. I blame the commentators for celebrating these young player before they actually achieve anything. All they have to do is take one big scalp and they’ve arrived.