ATP: Dominic Thiem in Halle off to a confident start into the grass court season

Dominic Thiem is in the second round of the ATP World Tour 500 tournament in Halle/Westphalia. The Austrian number one defeated the Russian Mikhail Youzhny in two sets.

Successful start to the grass court season for Dominic Thiem: Under the closed roof in Halle/Westphalia, the French Open finalist won 7-6 (5) and 6-2 against experienced Mikhail Youzhny. Youzny had played his way into the main field after qualifying, Thiem is in third place in Halle.

Dominic Thiem had met Youzhny before the meeting in Westphalia – also on grass, also in Germany. In Stuttgart 2016, the Austrian not only prevailed in the quarter-finals, he also won the tournament.

Thiem could have won the first act faster – after all, the 24-year-old from Lower Austria won the set 5-4. But a few moments later he even had to fend off a set ball of the Russian. After 65 minutes Thiem secured the tiebreak with 7:5.

In the second half, Thiem again managed an early break to 2-0, this time the Lower Austrian did not let anything burn. After 97 minutes, the favourite regained his opponent’s serve and crowned the successful start of his 2018 turf campaign.

In round two, Yuichi Sugita is waiting. The Japanese won against Maximilian Marterer in three sets. In a match marked by a lengthy break due to the closure of the roof over the Gerry Weber Stadium.