ATP Generali Open: Novak wins Austrian duel against Rodionov in Kitzbühel

Dennis Novak has won the all-Austrian first round duel at the Generali Open 2018 in Kitzbühel: The 24-year-old Davis Cup player defeated Yuri Rodionov in three sets.

Successful start for Dennis Novak at the Generali Open 2018: The Lower Austrian, who started with a wildcard, defeated the qualifier Jurij Rodionov with 6:4, 0:6 and 6:2. 8th place Serbian Dusan Lajovic of the ATP World Tour 250 tournament in Kitzbühel is now waiting for him in the round of 16.

Rodionov wobbled in his first service game, Novak liked to grab it. The favourite got the break, which was enough for 6:4 after 37 minutes. Although Rodionov came into play better and better, but did not take advantage of his chances as a setback.

However, a really good mood did not want to appear on the stands, both players acted too wrongly. In the second half, Novak in particular, who did not win a single game and made it 0:6 with an unsuccessful Smash.

In the decision the signs turned once again: Rodionov gave away match balls to the 1:0, Novak managed the break. And in the third game the next one. Rodionov, however, brought excitement back into the match, used his sixth break point for the 1:3 and gave up his service again. This hurdle was too high for the left-hander, Novak could not be taken the success any more.

In round two, Dusan Lajovic will be waiting, against whom Novak will have to significantly improve his performance. Dominic Thiem’s 24-year-old doubles partner is able to do this, as he recently demonstrated in Wimbledon and before at the Davis Cup in Moscow. Lajovic, who has been training in Kitzbühel for several days, was convincing all along the line against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

Novak was also quite self-critical after the match. “The second movement was a disaster,” said the winner in an interview with ORF after the match. He himself has no explanation for it. But he was glad that he had once again caught himself in the third act.

Here the single tableau in Kitzbühel