For the first time in 36 years, no Austrian was among the top 100 of the ATP in spring. But this “slip” could soon be over. With Rodionov, Thiem, Misolic, Dennis Novak and Sebastian Ofner, five players are currently ranked 140 to 190. But with their recent successes, Thiem and Rodionov are on the rise.
In the live ranking, the two separate only five positions. Thiem is 132nd and Rodionov as 127th just ahead. Rodionov reached the Challenger semi-finals in Saint-Tropez on Friday with a 6-4 6-3 win over Italy’s Roberto Marcora. In this, the 23-year-old from Lower Austria meets his compatriot Mattia Bellucci on Saturday and is one of the favorites.
Rodionov on the way up
Rodionov has secured 36 ATP points, at the tournament on the French Riviera there are 100 points for the champion. “I am super happy with my performance today. I was very focused, didn’t allow much and above all I was able to rely on my strong serve,” said Rodionov happily.
In addition, Rodionov kept up in the “long-distance duel” with Dominic Thiem for the position of the best Austrian in the ATP ranking from Monday. If both lose on Saturday, Rodionov remains in front. If Rodionov reaches the final, he will improve his best ranking so far (ATP-124.). In the case of a title, he moves to around 110th place. Thiem can score more points at the ATP tour level at the weekend and even return to the top 100 if he wins a title in Gijon.
“I want to improve myself”
Thiem is in the semifinals of an ATP tournament for the second time since suffering a hand injury in June 2021. The Lower Austrian defeated the number four seeded Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo 6: 4 6: 3 at the ATP tournament in Gijon on Friday. In the match for his first final in almost two years on Saturday (not before 2 p.m.) he meets the top seeded Russian Andrei Rublev, number nine in the world.
Thiem continues winning streak in Gijon
Dominic Thiem continued his successful run at the ATP 250 tournament in Gijon and is in the semifinals.
“From the first match I felt great here. I’m super happy that I’m still in the tournament at the weekend. Especially after three really good matches. Again today, apart from a short phase of weakness, it was a really concentrated performance,” said Thiem. The fact that he reached the semi-finals for the second time after Gstaad in July is “very important to me. I want to improve my ranking, I’m still over 150. A semi-final helps a lot there,” he said.
Thiem before “incredible challenge”
There it is against Rublev, who defeated the American Tommy Paul 7:5 6:3. “I will have to improve when I play against Rublev, again against a top ten player, against one of the best players in the world at the moment,” said Thiem. “It’s an incredible challenge.”
Thiem won the first two duels against the Russian, but he was only 20 years old at the time. The Russian, who will be 25 next week, won the last three encounters (2019 in Hamburg, 2020 in Vienna and 2020 at the ATP Finals in London).
With the success over the world number 29. Cerundolo, only the third success over a top 30 player since his comeback, Thiem is getting closer to his big goal of getting back into the top 100 by the end of the year. In any case, the fans in Vienna can look forward to a local hero who is really on the rise again. Before the city hall tournament at the end of October, Thiem will be playing in Antwerp next week.
ATP 250 Tournament in Gijon
(Spanien, 612.000 Euro, Hardcourt/Indoor)