On the third day of the main draw of the Erste Bank Open, the top seeded players joined the action.
Austria’s National Holiday saw the fourth and final Austrian join the action. But Dennis Novak’s opponent was none less than the tournament’s number 2 and the world’s number 5, Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece. In the first set, Novak kept up with the Greek, even taking the lead 4-3 with a break, but immediately had to concede the re-break. In the tie-break, Tsitsipas easily overcame the Austrian 7-2. From there it was all Tsitsipas who ultimately stormed to an easy 7-6 (2), 6-2 victory.
Daniil Medvedev, the tournament’s number 1, was even quicker in dispatching Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-2, 6-2 and thus setting up the round 2 clash with Dominic Thiem on Thursday.
The day was kicked off by Italian Jannik Sinner (ATP 12), who eliminated Chile’s Cristian Garin (ATP 86) in style, taking only 73 minutes to win 6-3, 6-2.
American Marcos Giron (ATP 58) also had no problems whatsoever, beating Dutch Tallon Griekspoor in 74 minutes 6-4, 6-2.
In the final match of the day, Denis Shapovalov (CAN/19) prevailed 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 against Taylor Fritz (USA/10), already advancing to the quarter finals.