While Yuri Rodionov on Thursday in the round of 16 of the ATP tournament from Estoril against the Serb seeded number six Miomir Kecmanovic compatriot had gone down without a hitch with 0:6,1:6 Dominic Thiem every reason to be happy.
The former number three in the world defeated the only 20-year-old American Ben Shelton 6: 2 and 6: 2 and is thus in the quarterfinals. Thiem showed himself from his best side, celebrating the second win in a row and the third this year.
Especially in his service game, the 29-year-old showed that he is finally able to bring his good training performance into the match. Thiem only allowed a breakball, which Shelton used at the beginning, then the former third in the rankings was gentleman on the court. Forehand and return were also improved.
In the end, routine prevailed against the only 20-year-old newcomer Shelton. “I played all my experience on sand, which Shelton simply lacks. It gets better for me from match to match,” said the Lichtenwörther.
© Bild: EPA/MIGUEL A. LOPES
Good this way. After all, he needs for the main competition for the beloved Fench Open still points. He has to deliver this six weeks before the start of the tournament (May 28), at the moment he would just not be there. With a quarter-final victory on Friday against the Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut or the Frenchman Quentin Halys, it looks very good that Thiem can go into his tenth French Open adventure.
Quite different Rodionov: The world number 40. from Belgrade, Austria’s number two with 32 left just over a third of all points played, Rodionov missed all three of his break chances. The 23-year-old scored 1: 2 in round two, but that was all he could do.
Thiem remains the one
“I played very well, everything I tried ended up on the court,” Kecmanovic said after the 64-minute game that he had a great day. In any case, it was clear that Dominic Thiem remains Austria’s number one in the world rankings.
