“This victory means a lot to me,” Misolic said after his first-round success. “It’s a wonderful feeling to experience something like this. The energy from the crowd is something I’ll never forget.” That same energy is what the 23-year-old hopes to carry into his next match: “I know how he plays – there will be long rallies, and I’ll have to be a bit more aggressive. Getting to play against a Top 10 player is something really special.”

From a tactical standpoint, Misolic expects a tough and physical battle: “We’re actually quite similar in style,” he said with a laugh, “but I guess he does it a bit better than I do. It’s definitely going to be physically demanding, but I’m really looking forward to it.”

The Styrian is also pleased with how his own game is coming together: “Switching from clay to hard courts isn’t easy for me, but I knew I was playing well. I’m really happy that it’s working here.” With this win, Misolic moves one step closer to achieving his goal of finishing the season inside the Top 100. “That would mean a lot – also because it decides whether I’ll make it directly into the main draw of the Australian Open.”

If the atmosphere in the Wiener Stadthalle is anything like it was in the opening round, fans can look forward to another electric night of tennis to close out the day’s play.