In the cold and damp temperatures, Rodionov’s efforts from four games so far, including the five-sentence thriller in the first round against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, made themselves felt. Austria’s number four (ATP-170.) Took a medical timeout twice, once the 21-year-old was treated on the thigh and once on the back.
For Rodionov, the tournament is still paying off. Moving into the second round brought the 21-year-old, who even made it into the main competition of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time, 84,000 euros gross prize money, around half of his previous career salary. In addition to the prize money, Rodionov has also secured his first foray into the top 150 of the world rankings.
Rodionov – Gombos: Rodionov scheitert an Gombos
Rodionov makes a big false start
The game started badly for the Austrian. Rodionov made a big false start, lost his first two service games and after around ten minutes was already 4-0 behind. Only then did he invent himself, but Gombos served after only 26 minutes to lead the 1-0 set.
In the second round Rodionov managed the break to 2-0, but the Slovak countered immediately with the rebreak. The 21-year-old from Lower Austria then had his thigh treated, but Gombos hadn’t lost the rhythm of the game. Rodionov got two more breaks to 4: 2 and 6: 2, with which he made the set equal.
Rodionov equalizes in sentences
Back and forth in the third pass
It went back and forth in the third round, in which the Austrian had to be treated on his back. Rodionov conceded a break to 1: 2, but managed to equalize to 4: 4. Again the Austrian fell behind with a break with 4: 5, but Gombos could not serve, but gave his serve to zero. The decision was made in the tie-break, in which the Slovakian got the upper hand with 7: 4.
Rodionov – Gombos: Set three in the tiebreak at Gombos
Set four was initially even, no player scratched a break, until Rodionov in the tenth game with a score of 5: 4 for the world number 106. from Slovakia suddenly wobbled and was behind with 30:40 on his own serve. Gombos took advantage of the first and only break chance in the fourth round and fixed the move into the third round after 2:50 hours.
