ATP: Philipp Kohlschreiber defeats defending champion Lucas Pouille in Vienna

Philipp Kohlschreiber was eliminated in the first round of the ATP World Tour 500 tournament. The German Davis Cup player lost to defending champion Lucas Pouille in three sets.

Big sport on the smaller court – so it became very narrow in the entrance to the #NextGen-Court on Tuesday afternoon in the Vienna Stadthalle. Anyone who nevertheless found a place in the stands was rewarded with a balanced, partly high-class match. At the end of which Philipp Kohlschreiber lost to Lucas Pouille.

The Augsburg native, who has been living in Kitzbühel for a few years, lost last year’s winner from France 4:6, 7:6 (5) and 4:6. The decision was made in the seventh game of the third set, in which Pouille, who had defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Vienna final last year, took Kohlschreiber’s serve. The German had three chances to make a comeback in the last game, Pouille fended off the first with his 13th ace.

On the other hand, Lucas Pouille made his first match point with a double fault. But at the third attempt, after a playing time of 2:15 hours, Pouille closed the set.

In the second lap Pouille is now waiting for a duel with Borna Coric. The finalist of the youngest ATP Masters-1000 tournament in Shanghai had serious problems with Albert Ramos-Vinolas during his first appearance in Vienna, but could only assert himself in three sets.

By the way, as well as two players who are still fighting for a place at the ATP Finals in London: Kei Nishikori had already set up for victory in the second set against Frances Tiafoe, but then had to play a lap of honour against the young American. And John Isner played against Cameron Norrie his entry fee almost up to the limit, only in the tiebreak of the third set with 9:7 prevailed. And this after defending a match ball.

Here the single tableau in Vienna