Russian Andrey Rublev, the world’s no. 8, has stopped local hero and title defender Dominic Thiem in the quarter finals of the Erste Bank Open in two sets. Rublev won 7-6(5), 6-2. In the semis, Rublev will clash with Kevin Anderson, who eliminated Daniil Medvedev also in two sets in the first match of the day.
The match between Thiem and Rublev was world class, especially in the first set. Both players did not hold back and fired shots from all corners of the court. In the tiebreak it was Rublev who kept the upper hand 7-5.
The second set was much more lop-sided. Rublev broke Thiem for an early 2-1 lead and then again to make it 4-1. After that break Thiem signaled some problems with his foot but passed on having a medical time-out. The rest was just a matter of minutes as Rublev took the set 6-2.
Semi final clash with 2018 winner
In the first singles match of the quarter finals, South African Kevin Anderson had come out on top in his bout with Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, winning 6-4, 7-6(5). Anderson sealed the first set with an early break and safe service games. The Vienna winner from 2018 had to save only one break point throughout the whole match.
In the second set, Medvedev managed to stay on serve despite facing several break points. His luck ran out in the tiebreak, where Anderson kept the upper hand 7-5, advancing to the semifinals.