Dominic Thiem has successfully started into the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Shanghai. Lichtenwörther won the first round of the double competition alongside Robert Lindstedt.
A few months have passed since Dominic Thiem last played a double on the ATP tour. And won. In Kitzbühel war´s, at the Generali Open, then at the side of Dennis Novak. Now the Austrian number one with the Swedish pair skating expert Robert Lindstedt successfully started into the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Shanghai. Thiem/Lindstedt defeated the Australian couple Alex de Minaur and John Millman with 6:4 and 7:6 (6) and now face Henri Kontinen and John Peers.
In the singles, Thiem’s Australian side will also start: Matthew Ebden defeated the US American Frances Tiafoe 3:6, 6:4 and 6:3 and is thus the first opponent of the sixth seeded Austrian.
Ebden had not been nominated for the Davis Cup in Graz, his strengths do not lie on the ash pitches. South African-born Ebden plays a solid season and is 51st in the current ATP World Ranking, never playing Dominic Thiem, but beating a top ten man in round one at Wimbledon with David Goffin.
Thiem, on the other hand, has made himself a little scarce over the last few weeks, having trained after his triumph in St. Petersburg in Vienna, albeit not in full possession of his physical powers. In Shanghai, the 25-year-old will be accompanied by physiotherapist Alex Stober and Galo Blanco, head coach Günter Bresnik did not join the journey.
Dominic Thiem has exactly ten points to defend in Shanghai. So every win, every point counts, especially in view of qualifying for the ATP final in London. Thiem is currently eighth in the year’s standings, his first rival, John Isner, is leaving Shanghai out.