2023-08-05 13:54:00
After some dramatic victories in the course of the tournament, the dream of the second Kitzbühel title did not come true for the 29-year-old from Lichtenwörther. Alexander Erler/Lucas Miedler are still fighting for the title in doubles on Saturday.
Nothing came of the big happy ending at the Kitzbühel Generali Open for Dominic Thiem. The local hero lost 3: 6, 1: 6 in the final of the ATP tennis tournament once morest Argentinian Sebastian Baez, who was also unseeded. For the South American it is the third title on the tour, the second this year. Thiem’s record remains at 17 titles, the Lower Austrian had won his last before his wrist injury in September 2020 at the US Open.
Thiem was naturally disappointed with the defeat. “Of course I would have wished it had turned out differently. But Sebastian was too strong,” said the 29-year-old at the award ceremony. “Nevertheless, I want to take every single win and every minute of the tournament with me. It was incredible. Many thanks to my team. It was a very special week, which we deserved following the difficult times of the past few days. I hope to be back at standing at an award ceremony, then with a bigger trophy.”
Since the opening game in the quarter-finals once morest Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, Thiem had avoided a break once morest himself and even fended off twelve attacks on his service games in the semi-finals once morest the Serb Laslo Djere. It didn’t take long for him to bow out once morest the tournament’s best return player. The 22-year-old Baez, once number one in the junior world rankings and a proven clay court specialist, took a 3-1 lead and didn’t burn much in his service games. With a solid game, the “Gaucho” served to lead the sentence.
At the beginning of the second half, the rain got heavier once more, because of the constant rain and its consequences, the game started regarding an hour and a half late. From then on, only Thiem was in the rain, with the fatigue from the 3:30 hour match the previous evening once morest Djere in his bones, he found no recipe once morest number 72 in the world rankings for a long time. With Baez’ break to 4: 1, the preliminary decision had been made in a stadium that was sold out for the fourth day in a row, but in the game followingwards Thiem’s fans still had hope.
With a suddenly more powerful game, he forced the server Baez on the defensive and worked out his first two break points in the game. Alone, Baez withstood the attacks, made it 5:1 and, to crown his performance, broke once more to win the match. The game was over following just 1:20 hours. Baez will improve to 42 in the world rankings on Monday, his career high is 30. Thiem is at least returning to the top 90. In 2019 he had won the Kitz trophy, in the final he had already lost in the final in 2014.
“We know you’re a great player”
Baez gave up just one set over the course of the tournament, in the semifinals once morest top seeded compatriot Tomas Martin Etcheverry. All in all, he was on the court around three hours shorter than Thiem, who had to digest three tough three-set games. “Sebastian, you played a great week, you really deserve this title,” said Thiem. The winner almost had a guilty conscience. “I know everyone here wanted to see Domi win. A few years ago I was still admiring you on TV. We know you’re a great player.”
Thiem continues in the week starting August 21 at the ATP250 tournament in Winston-Salem, where the 2020 US Open title holder received a wildcard. Sebastian Ofner, who was eliminated in the round of 16 in Kitzbühel, will also serve at this US event. In the two weeks that followed, the last Grand Slam tournament of the year took place in New York. Thiem has not won a match since his injury break at majors.
ATP250 (Kitzbühel, 630,705 euros, sand) – single, final:
Sebastian Baez – Dominic Thiem 6:3, 6:1
Doubles, final (Saturday):
Erler/Miedler – Gonzalo Escobar/Aleksander Nedowjesow
Finals of the ATP tournament in Kitzbühel since 2000
- 2000 Alex Corretja (ESP) – Emilio Alvarez (ESP) 6:3,6:1,3:0 wo
- 2001 Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) – Albert Costa (ESP) 1:6,6:4,7:5,7:5
- 2002 Alex Corretja (ESP) – Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 6:4, 6:1, 6:3
- 2003 Guillermo Coria (ARG) – Nicolas Massu (CHI) 6:1,6:4,6:2
- 2004 Nicolas Massu (CHI) – Gaston Gaudio (ARG) 7:6(3),6:4
- 2005 Gaston Gaudio (ARG) defeated Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 2:6,6:2,6:4,6:4
- 2006 Agustin Calleri (ARG) – Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 7:6(9),6:2,6:3
- 2007 Juan Monaco (ARG) – Potito Starace (ITA) 5:7,6:3,6:4
- 2008 Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) – Jürgen MELZER (AUT) 6:2.6:1
- 2009 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) – Julien Benneteau (FRA) 3:6,7:6(1),6:3
- 2010 Challenger status only
- 2011 Robin Haase (NED) – Albert Montanes (ESP) 6:4,4:6,6:1
- 2012 Robin Haase (NED) – Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6:7(2),6:3,6:2
- 2013 Marcel Granollers (ESP) – Juan Monaco (ARG) 0:6,7:6(3),6:4
- 2014 David Goffin (BEL) – Dominic THIEM (AUT) 4:6,6:1,6:3
- 2015 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) – Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 2:6,6:2,6:2
- 2016 Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) – Nikolos Basilaschwili (GEO) 6:3,6:4
- 2017 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) – Joao Sousa (POR) 6:3.6:4
- 2018 Martin Klizan (SVK) – Denis Istomin (UZB) 6:2,6:2
- 2019 Dominic THIEM (AUT) – Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 7:6(0),6:1
- 2020 Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) – Yannick Hanfmann (GER) 6:4, 6:4
- 2021 Casper Ruud (NOR-1) – Pedro Martinez (ESP) 6:1,4:6,6:3
- 2022 Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) – Filip MISOLIC (AUT) 6:2,6:2
- 2023 Sebastian Baez (ARG) – Dominic THIEM (AUT) 6:3,6:1
Austrian winners (since held as an international
Championships 1971): 1993 Thomas Muster; 2019 Dominic Thiem
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