ATP Vienna: Dennis Novak cannot stop Karen Khachanov’s run in Vienna

Dennis Novak has been eliminated in the first round of the ATP World Tour 500 tournament in Vienna. The Austrian Davis Cup player lost two sets to Karen Khachanovin from Russia.

By Jens Huiber from the Wiener Stadthalle

A Wednesday start can also be an advantage in a tournament with a 32-grid, so one day longer is the time to get into gear for the competitions. On the other hand, there are good reasons or, as Dennis Novak sees it, fewer reasons for not starting the singles until the third main-field day. Karen Khachanov came to the Austrian capital with the concentrated self-confidence of winning the tournament in Moscow.

And the Russian, who reached a new career high in the ATP world rankings with his victory in Moscow as number 19, had his Austrian opponent under control right from the start. And won after a playing time of 1:25 hours with 6:3 and 7:5.

Novak had not been quite as successful as Khachanov last week, but had already lost in round one against Johannes Härteis from Germany at the ATP-Challenger-Tournament in Ismaning after a brilliant start. Annoying, but to be overcome to the extent that the 25-year-old from Lower Austria could just start early with the preparation for his home tournament.

Khachanov presented with a break to 2-0, Novak failed to regain the connection immediately afterwards. The underdog managed to score 2:3 – to zero. Novak seemed to have the momentum on his side – but lost his serve again, this time to 3:5. The 22-year-old Russian accepted gratefully, served after 32 minutes.

Wolfgang Thiem and Günter Bresnik, Sebastian Ofner and Dominic Thiem had taken their seats in the box of the local hero. The latter had successfully contested the Tuesday evening, despite fierce resistance from Ruben Bemelmans.

Set two also started for Novak with a low shot, Khachanov managed another break. And the next one was 3-0. The fact that the winner of Moscow did not act quite at the level of his creativity was shown in the fourth game – Novak managed the first of two necessary re-breaks. A few minutes later even the compensation. The longer the ball was in play, the better the prospects for the local favourite.

These disappeared into thin air in the eleventh game: A backhand ball from Novak, then a double fault, a lucky return of the Russian led to the third break in the second set. And this time Karen Khachanov did not let the advantage be taken out of his hands. The Russian served up 15 and will face Kei Nishikori in round two.

Novak explained after the match that he had been too nervous at the beginning. Although he had fought his way back well in the second set, the disappointment was still deep.

Here the single tableau in Vienna