Zverev, Thiem Play Tourists In Vienna

The ATP World Tour heads to Vienna this week for the Erste Bank Open 500, where some of the game’s biggest names, including German Alexander Zverev and home favourite Dominic Thiem, will look to secure one of the final titles of the season.

Zverev will be looking to capture his first title in Vienna and sixth title in 2017. The top seed has already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals on the back of two ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles (Rome, Montreal).

“This city is amazing. I think it is an old-fashioned European city like we have in my home country in Germany,” Zverev said. “I think it is great, and hopefully it is going to be a great tournament for me as well.”

Second-seeded Thiem, who grew up just outside Vienna, will be making his seventh appearance at his home tournament. The right-hander has also already booked his return trip to the Nitto ATP Finals, but Thiem will look to reverse an 0-3 Asian swing this week in Austria.

In his opener, Thiem will meet Russia’s Andrey Rublev, who, last week, qualified for the Next Gen ATP Finals, to be held 7-11 November in Milan. Rublev’s countryman Karen Khachanov also secured his bid for Milan last week. The 6’6″ Russian will meet eighth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the first round. Tsonga is going for his fourth title of the year on Sunday at the European Open in Antwerp.