Dominic Thiem remains loyal to the Masters tournament in Shanghai. Even if (only) in an unusual role as a doubles player.
Together with his Scandinavian partner, 41-year-old Robert Lindstedt, Thiem also took the second hurdle in the double competition. And the Austrian-Swedish duo managed to surprise the crowds with a surprise as thick as a fist. Thiem/Lindstedt defeated the fourth seeded pair Henri Kontinen/John Peers (Finland/Australia) in 1:19 hours with 6:4, 4:6, 11:9.
In the first round the outsiders had eliminated the Australians Alex de Minaur/John Millman with 6:4, 7:6 (8:6). The next opponents also have it in themselves: Thiem and Lindstedt have to deal with Jamie Murray/Bruno Soares (Great Britain/Brazil/Nr. 6) in the duel for the jump into the semi-finals. The Austrian had failed in his opening singles against Matthew Ebden (Australia).
As expected, Thiem-Landsmann Oliver Marach and Croatian Mate Pavic are also in the quarter finals of the double competition. The Australian Open-Champs, placed second in Shanghai, defeated Dominic Inglot/Franko Skugor (Great Britain/Croatia) in a real battle of nerves in just 1:36 hours with 6:3, 6:7 (4:7), 16:14. Next hurdle: Ivan Dodig/Nikola Mektic (Croatia/Nr. 8). The Shanghai title is still missing from Marach and Pavic’s collection.