“Dominic Thiem’s Challenger in Mauthausen: A Sold Out Event With High Expectations”

Dominic Thiem reached the round of 16 at the Challenger in Mauthausen without a shine.

Although Dominic Thiem only entered the center court in the late afternoon, the parking lot of TC Union Mauthausen was hopelessly overcrowded hours before. After the 29-year-old’s promise to honor the Challenger tournament in the Mühlviertel, the cashier could rub his hands. The entire tournament week is completely sold out thanks to the high attendance of Austria’s tennis star.

Admittedly, the TC Union Mauthausen quickly reaches its capacity limits. That means: 500 visitors a day, 100 of them on the tennis club’s VIP terrace. It goes without saying that far more tickets could have been sold.

Thankless fate

Thiem’s ​​opponent in the first round was 18-year-old Matthias Ujvary from Burgenland, who had played through the qualification and made his debut in the main competition of a challenger. For Ujvary it was the game of his life, for the big favorite Thiem a rather thankless task. “I could only lose.” Which he didn’t do.

The former world number three needed 77 minutes for the 6: 4, 6: 2 win against his young compatriot. Ujvary played fearlessly, gave a talent test. And Thiem? He was actually only really satisfied with his serve, but didn’t want to overestimate what was shown. “I have done my job.”

In the round of 16 on Wednesday (not before 2.30 p.m.) there is definitely a need for improvement. The opponent is Federico Delbonis, a 32-year-old clay court digger from Argentina, who even defeated Roger Federer on his favorite surface ten years ago in Hamburg. In addition to Thiem, five other Austrians are in the round of 16 with Dennis Novak, Sebastian Ofner, Filip Misolic, Gerald Melzer and Sandro Kopp.

(cg)