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Tennis: Thiem also remains without a win in Rome

Tennis

Dominic Thiem was not able to celebrate the first victory he had hoped for in the fifth attempt since his comeback. The 28-year-old from Lower Austria, who has slipped to 162nd place in the world rankings after his 280-day break due to a wrist injury, had to defeat Italian Fabio Fognini 4: 6 in the first round of the ATP 1000 clay court tournament in Rome on Monday evening 6:7 (5/7) beaten.

In the former world number three, who had previously suffered defeats at the Challenger in Marbella and at the ATP tournaments in Belgrade, Estoril and Madrid, light and shadow changed again against an opponent who was not overpowering. In five games so far, Thiem has only won one set, his last win dates from May 12, 2021.

Thiem’s ​​best performance in Rome so far was in 2017, when he was only stopped by Novak Djokovic in the semifinals after beating Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals. However, the US Open winner of 2020 is currently a long way from these heydays. The Lower Austrian acted too inconsistently, too incorrectly, especially from the forehand.

Break and tie break decide

The fifth duel between the two players (Fognini shortened to 2:3) began with an initially more confident serve from Thiem, while Fognini had to fend off two breakballs from Thiem in the fourth game. When the score was 4:4, Fognini had his first chances and the local hero used the second to get the first break. Fognini then converted his second set ball to make it 6: 4 after 48 minutes.

In the second round, Thiem did not use a break chance to make it 2-0 after a service game to zero. This missed opportunity later put him behind again, because at 3: 3 Thiem had to give up his serve. Fognini then made it 5: 3 and had his first match point after 1:36 hours with a 5: 4 lead and his own serve. But Thiem reared up again and used his third chance in this game to rebreak. The old fighting spirit of the four-time major finalist really flashed.

With sovereign service games from both players, it then went into the tie-break. In this Thiem equalized a 3/5 deficit, but after a total of 1:53 hours Fognini used his second match point.

Reuters/Alberto Lingria

Fabio Fognini advanced to the second round at his home tournament

Thiem will continue next week at the ATP 250 tournament in Geneva, where he will do his dress rehearsal for the major tournament in Paris immediately before the French Open (from May 22nd). Thiem urgently needs self-confidence for his return to Grand Slam level, but he also has to improve significantly in terms of consistency and a less faulty forehand.

ATP 1000 tournament in Rome

(Italy, €6,008,725, clay court)

Erstrundentableau:
Novak Djokovic (SRB/1)bye
Aslan Karazew (RUS)Lloyd Harris (RSA)3:6 6:3 7:6 (9/7)
Laszlo Djere (SRB)Borna Coric (CRO)6:2 6:7 (3/7) 6:2
Stan Wawrinka (SUI)Reilly Opelka (USA / 14)3:6 7:5 6:2
Diego Schwartzman (ARG/12)Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB)-:- -:-
Marcos Giron (USA)Alexander Bublik (KAZ)3:6 6:4 6:3
Alexander Davidovich Fokina (ESP)Ilya Iwaschka (BLR)6:2 4:6 6:4
Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN/8)bye
Rafael Nadal (ESP/3)bye
John Isner (USA)Francisco Cerundolo (ARG)-:- -:-
Nikolos Basilaschwili (GEO)Daniel Evans (GBR)7:6 (7/2) 6:2
Denis Shapovalov (CAN/13)Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)7:6 (7/5) 3:6 6:3
Hubert Hurkacz (POL / 11)David Goffin (BEL)-:- -:-
Jenson Brooksby (USA)Flavio Cobolli (ITA)6:3 6:4
Botic van de Zandschulp (NED)Sebastian Korda (USA)6:4 6:1
Casper Ruud (NOR/5)bye
Andrej Rublew (RUS/6)bye
Filip Krajinovic (SRB)Frances Tiafoe (USA)7:6 (9/7) 7:6 (7/4)
Fabio Fognini (ITA)Dominic Thiem (AUT)6:4 7:6 (7/5)
Jannik Sinner (ITA / 10)Pedro Martinez Portero (ESP)-:- -:-
Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP/15)Federico Delbonis (ARG)6:3 6:2
Karen Khachanov (RUS)Giulio Zeppieri (ITA)6:3 6:4
Grigor Dimitrow (BUL)Brandon Nakashima (USA)-:- -:-
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE / 4)bye
Emil Rose Mountain (FIN / LL) *bye
Cristian Garin (CHI)Francesco Passaro (ITA)6:3 6:2
Marin Cilic (CRO)Matteo Arnaldi (ITA)6:1 6:4
Cameron Norrie (GBR/9)Luca Nardi (ITA)-:- -:-
Alex de Minaur (AUS)Dusan Lajovic (SRB)6:4 6:1
Tommy Paul (USA)Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP)6:4 6:4
Tallon Greek Rail (NED)Sebastian Baez (ARG)-:- -:-
Alexander Zverev (GER/2)bye

* Substitute for Carlos Alcaraz (ESP/7)

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