Dominic Thiem retired at the Generali Open 2018 in Kitzbühel. The number one of the tournament was defeated by the Slovak Martin Klizan in three sets.
By Jens Huiber from Kitzbühel
Tournament director Alexander Antonitsch had to put up the “sold out” sign at the box offices of the Generali Open on Wednesday evening – and everyone, really everyone who had got a ticket, had appeared in the stands at 6 p.m. on the dot at the latest. A great scenery that provided the setting for a great tennis match.
That Martin Klizan saw after a 6:1, 1:6 and 7:5 as the winner. Especially because the Slovakian made better use of his chances in the end. Dominic Thiem must postpone the longed-for home victory in Kitzbühel by one year.
Thiem and Klizan met three times before the match in Kitzbühel, including qualifying for the Australian Open. The Slovakian was leading 2-1. Klizan came into the main field by qualifying, defeating Sebastian Ofner in round one.
Thiem started wrongly, didn’t find himself in the match as a recoil. After just over 20 minutes, the first set went to Klizan, who completely lost the thread in the second set. Also because Thiem now played more aggressively, improved as a rebound and rebound.
The Austrian found the better chances in the decision, but could not use several break points. At 5-5, for example, the Austrian just missed a backhand return.
And Klizan could take a full risk in the twelfth game, benefiting from a slight forehand error by Thiem at 30:30 – Thiem fended off the first match point with a forehand attack. In the second attempt Thiem put out a forehand via net band, Klizan was happy about the move to the last eight.
Dusan Lajovic is now waiting in the quarter-finals. The Serbian had no problems with Dennis Novak at 6-2 and 6-4.
Here the single tableau in Kitzbühel