Thiem Battles Into Kitzbühel Quarter-finals

Dominic Thiem is quietly working his way back into form.

The Austrian was tested on Wednesday, but battled past countryman Sebastian Ofner 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the Generali Open in Kitzbühel. The former World No. 3 has now advanced to at least the last eight in three consecutive weeks.

“It was an unbelievable atmosphere once again. Great afternoon to play tennis again and really happy to get the win. Obviously it was very different conditions to yesterday. It’s not easy to make the change and as well against [Ofner], we know each other very well, practising together a lot of times,” Thiem said in his on-court interview. “It was a great, great fight at the end and happy to be through.”

Before arriving in Bastad less than three weeks ago, Thiem had not won a tour-level match in 2022 as he struggled to discover his best level after returning from a wrist injury in March. But the 28-year-old has now won seven of his past nine matches. 

Ofner put plenty of pressure on his countryman, leading by a break twice in the decider. He also earned two break points when Thiem served for the match, but it was the 17-time tour-level titlist who was more consistent when it mattered most to triumph after one hour and 58 minutes. The 2019 Kitzbühel champion will next play Yannick Hanfmann, who eliminated Ivan Gakhov 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4.

“I don’t think there was too much difference in shotmaking. I think there were some small details in the score. In the third set he was up a break twice and I was able to make the rebreak straight away twice again. If he holds his serve and he goes away in the third set, probably it’s going to be a different outcome. But these were the key moments when twice I was able to straight [away] rebreak.”

Three seeded Spaniards also advanced to the quarter-finals. Third seed Roberto Bautista Agut, fifth seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas and seventh seed Pedro Martinez all moved on in straight sets.

Bautista Agut ousted Austrian wild card Jurij Rodionov 6-1, 6-4 to set a clash against #NextGenATP Czech Jiri Lehecka, who clawed past Portugal’s Joao Sousa 7-6(6), 1-6, 6-3.

Ramos-Vinolas eliminated Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas 6-3, 6-4 to advance to a showdown with Martinez, who defeated Argentine Federico Coria 6-4, 6-3.

Did You Know?
Thiem fell to No. 352 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on 13 June. After defeating Ofner, he is up to No. 167 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.