After Filip Misolic, Jurij Rodionov also retired from the ATP 500 tournament in the Wiener Stadthalle. In the first round of the Erste Bank Open on Tuesday, the 23-year-old was beaten by Canadian Denis Shapovalov 4:6 4:6 after 1:41 hours. Shapovalov thus succeeded in taking revenge on Rodionov for the defeat in Vienna two years ago.
After a balanced initial phase with strong service performances, Shapovalov managed the first break in the first set to make it 4:3. Even with two double faults, the 23-year-old made it possible for the local hero to equalize in a hard-fought game, but Shapovalov immediately regained the advantage and served out.
In the second set, Rodionov got off to a weak start, almost falling behind with a double break. The 23-year-old, however, caught himself just in time to keep the suspense for the numerous spectators.
Exciting final phase
But Shapovalov didn’t let the advantage be taken away. Although he missed three match points as a setback at 5: 3 and had to fend off four break balls in a row while serving on his own, Rodionov did not succeed in taking the decisive step to equalize. Shapovalov used his fourth match point after 1:41 hours.
The other, earlier Tuesday first round games also brought two-set wins. Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov eliminated Brazilian Thiago Monteiro, Briton Daniel Evans eliminated German Oscar Otte and Finn Emil Ruusuvuori eliminated Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
Novak in action on Wednesday
On Wednesday, the second game after 2 p.m. will focus on the clash between Dennis Novak from Lower Austria and Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece, who is in second place. Following this (not before 5.30 p.m.) and immediately before the Shapovalov match against Taylor Fritz (USA), the top seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev meets the Georgian Nikolos Basilashvili.
ATP 500 tournament in Vienna
(Austria, 2,489,935 euros, hard court/indoor)
