Dominic Thiem’s comeback at the Erste Bank Open proved to be highly dramatic. Against American Tommy Paul (ATP 30) Thiem got through after 2:55 hours and saving two match points, winning 2-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (6)
Thiem had a total cold start, with Paul jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead and taking the set 6-2. In the second set, the Austrian fought his way back into the match. Thiem missed a few break points but went on a point streak in the tie-break taking the decider 7-2.
Comeback
The third set started out as a blue copy of the first with Paul getting an early 3-0 lead, but once again Thiem didn’t back down and finally managed to level the game at 5-5. In the tie-break it was Thiem who gave up a quick 3-0 lead and found himself to be about eliminated when Paul had two match points at 6-4. Thiem saved them both and sealed the match with an 8-6 win in the tie-break.
Thanks to the crowd
“I would have been nothing without the crowd today”, Thiem said directly after the match on the centercourt. Indeed, the packed Stadthalle was what gave Thiem his second wind today, celebrating each point as if it were the match point, finally carrying the local hero to victory.
In the second round, Thiem will face the winner of top seeded Daniil Medvedev against Nikoloz Basilashvili. This match is scheduled for Wednesday.
In the final match of the day, Hubert Hurkacz (POL/11) beat last year’s finalist Frances Tiafoe (USA/17) 7-6 (9), 3-6, 6-3.