ATP Generali Open: Melzer and Petzschner inspire in Kitzbühel

Very strong debut for Philipp Petzschner and Jürgen Melzer at the Generali Open in Kitzbühel: The two veterans defeated the third seeded pair Wesley Koohlhof and Marcus Daniell in two sets.

Jürgen Melzer’s cry for victory shook the Center Court in Kitzbühel – and rightly so: After all, the Austrian legend and Philipp Petzschner had just used the third match point against Marcus Daniell and Wesley Koolhof, who were seeded in third place, 7-6 (5) and 6-4.

Under dreamlike conditions: Well-filled grandstands, a mild summer evening in the most legendary sports city in the Alps – and the prospect of a meeting with the finalists of 2016, Dominic Thiem and Dennis Novak. The two Austrians had already defeated Roberto Carballes Baena and Jaume Munar in the match tiebreak this afternoon.

Tournament director Alexander Antonitsch had equipped Melzer/Petzschner with a wildcard, and the two-time major champions repaid their trust with a strong performance. Which didn’t have to bring so much tension in the end: Twice the public favourites were one break ahead in the second round, twice the Dutch-New Zealand pairing immediately managed to equal the score.

In front of almost the entire Melzer family, by the way: Besides brother Gerald, who failed to qualify individually due to Martin Klizan, Melzer’s parents also held out until the end.

For Jürgen Melzer and Philipp Petzschner, Wednesday now offers time for regeneration – which the German in particular will need: “Petzsche” was treated on his thigh in the middle of the second movement. After their performances, the two veterans are still the favourites in the quarter-finals against Thiem/Novak.

Here the double tableau in Kitzbühel