“Hard court is not my favorite surface, but it was okay in the last few years in qualifying. It will be better this year, also because I generally play better,” said the 27-year-old. The outdoor courts in Flushing Meadows, which are faster compared to “normal” hard courts, always caused Ofner some problems in the past qualifying appearances: “But I’m looking forward to the tournament. I hope that I can perform well.”
Opening opponent of the world number 59. on Monday is the Portuguese Nuno Borges, against whom he will compete for the first time on the ATP tour (from 5 p.m. CEST). The Styrian is against the ATP-79. Favourite. In a few weeks he will meet Borges again in the Davis Cup. Austria host Portugal in the play-off in Schwechat on September 15th and 16th. Borges then arrives as the only top 200 player in his nation.
Grabher with good chances of advancement
For women, Grabher had a similarly strong 2023 as Ofner. She is currently ranked 54th in the WTA ranking. She only recently met her opening opponent on Monday (not before 8.30 p.m. CEST) in New York, the Chinese Wang Xiyu, in the first round of Cleveland. Grabher won the match 6:3 6:4 and can therefore hope for a place in the second round of the US Open.
GEPA/Walter Luger Grabher, like Ofner, is in the main round of the US Open for the first time
In Cleveland, the 27-year-old from Vorarlberg lost 6-4 6-1 to Wang’s compatriot Zhu Lin in the round of 16. Even if she was disappointed at first, Grabher said she would also take “positive moments” from the tournament to her US Open premiere. The Dornbirn native had already made her debut in the main draw at the other three Grand Slam tournaments in Australia, Paris and Wimbledon. But only at the French Open did she survive the first round.
Thiem is feeling better again
Another starter in the US Open main draw is Dominic Thiem, although there was a question mark behind the Lower Austrian’s appearance because of his gastritis. After all, that’s why he had to cancel his appearance in Winston-Salem. The champion of 2020, who last reminded of old times with the final in Kitzbühel, would be particularly happy to win the first round.
more on the subject
New York gears up for historic finale
“I feel better again,” said Thiem the day before his opening match. “My stomach still gives me a few problems from time to time, but the energy is back. I’m ready, I’ve had a good week of preparation and trained well. After Winston-Salem that is of course very important.”
Since the round of 16 at the Australian Open 2021, Thiem has suffered six first-round defeats in a row after his injury at majors. The world number 82. is an outsider against number 25 Kazakh Alexander Bublik (ATP-27) on Monday (5:00 p.m. CEST), even if he gets in top shape. Bublik is an unpleasant opponent, where the first service is particularly dangerous. He is also unpredictable on his second serve and also serves from below. Thiem had won the only duel with the Kazakh in four sets in the second round of the French Open in 2019.
2023-08-28 09:09:19
#Open #Ofner #debut #York
