Stefanos Tsitsipas, the tournament’s number 1, has avenged himself successfully on Grigor Dimitrov. Just one year ago, the Greek surprisingly had to bow to the Bulgarian. This time, the Greek kept the upper hand in two sets 7-6 (6), 6-4.
Dimitrov got off to the better start, especially when it came to his own serve. He only allowed one break point which he managed to save. Tsitsipas on the other hand, had to fight harder and save three break points. In the tiebreak, Dimitrov had three consecutive set points at 6-3, but Tsitsipas soared back with five points in a row to take the first set. In the second both players kept their serve until the very last game, when Tsitsipas managed to convert his first breakpoint to seal the match.
Ruud through in two sets
Norwegian Casper Ruud, the world‘s number 8 and five-times tournament winner this year, continues his great season in Vienna. He beat South African Lloyd Harris on the centercourt of the Wiener Stadthalle 7-5, 7-6 (2). Remarkable: there was only one break point in the whole match and Ruud made that one count to clinch the first set 7-5. The tiebreak in the second set was a clear-cut affair for the Norwegian who only gave up two points in the decider.
Favorites into the second round
Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the world’s number 12, cruised into the second round, outclassing Ricardas Berankis (LTU) 6-3, 6-2. He will meet British Indian Wells champion Cameron Norrie in the second round. Norrie only in the beginning struggled against Marton Fucsovics a bit, but eventually went on to quite easily dispatch the Hungarian 7-6 (4), 6-1.