18:17
Zverev – Thiem 6: 3, 1: 1
However, the German also brings his second serves through tightly and still wins his service game with ease.
18:15
Zverev – Thiem 6: 3, 0: 1
Zverev stumbles a bit at the beginning of the second set. In his service game, too, it was suddenly 30 both because he couldn’t find the right return length at the moment.
18:14
Zverev – Thiem 6: 3, 0: 1
The Austrian can still increase the pressure on the serve, Zverev can no longer match a cross service.
18:11
Zverev – Thiem 6: 3, 0: 0
And off we go into the second set. Thiem’s lack of self-confidence is now clearly noticeable, in his service game it is 30 both.
18:09
sentence conclusion
Alexander Zverev wins the first set with confidence and deserves it. The German benefits from his strong serve. Dominic Thiem, on the other hand, received the only break due to two double errors in a row.
18:09
Zverev – Thiem 6: 3
But then Zverev has the upper hand in the net duel because Thiem plays the stop too laxly. The sentence goes to the Germans!
18:08
Zverev – Thiem 5: 3
Strong return from Thiem, who can avert the disaster with a precise ball on the line for the time being.
18:06
Zverev – Thiem 5: 3
From his own serve, Zverev makes short work of it again and quickly earns two set balls.
18:04
Zverev – Thiem 5: 3
Thiem can avert the quick end again, but Zverev seems to be mentally preparing for the upcoming service game.
18:02
Zverev – Thiem 5: 2
In his own service game, Thiem gets involved in a longer rally right at the beginning, in which Zverev just hits the ball on the line.
18:01
Zverev – Thiem 5: 2
With the applause of Sophia Thomalla, Alexander Zverev wins the service game to zero!
18:00
Zverev – Thiem 4: 2
That is a bit symbolic for the current phase of the Austrian. Zverev plays the ball in the middle of the man, Thiem slips on the lawn when trying to defend himself.
17:59
Zverev – Thiem 4: 2
A return Thiems that is too far ensures that Zverev takes the lead with a break in this match.
17:54
Zverev – Thiem 3: 2
Thiem makes two double mistakes in a row and now has to fend off three breakballs. The self-confidence in the serves suddenly went completely flutes.
17:52
Zverev – Thiem 3: 2
Zverev also doesn’t let anything burn from his own serve. Fluid rallies are still scarce in this match, in fact most rallies are decided in three shots.
17:49
Zverev – Thiem 2: 2
Thiem is now better in the match, wins his service game in no time and only gives up one point.
17:48
Zverev – Thiem 2: 1
With two aces en suite, Zverev still pulls through his service game with confidence!
17:47
Zverev – Thiem 1: 1
Also the Austrian with an unnecessary forehand error, the break chance is gone.
17:45
Zverev – Thiem 1: 1
Zverev is still a little short of length, then he also makes an avoidable forehand mistake. Thiem is surprisingly awarded the first breakball in this match!
17:43
Zverev – Thiem 1: 1
Zverev returns a little too imprecisely and can no longer make it into the debut. Overall, however, the German made the better start.
17:40
Zverev – Thiem 1: 0
Dominic Thiem has significantly more problems with the first serve and gets caught up in longer rallies right from the start. Zverev could already make the first point, but the slice is too long. But then the German benefits from a backhand error by the Austrian.
17:38
Zverev – Thiem 1: 0
Thiem doesn’t find his way in the first game at all, collects another service winner and an ace. Zverev immediately finds his first serve.
17:38
Zverev 0-0 Thiem
Thiem wins the coin toss and opts for the setback. Zverev brings through a service winner with the first serve.
17:31
The players enter the court!
Rublev prevailed against Wu in three sets. The place is free, Zverev and Thiem are already warming up. Speaking of warm, as in most parts of the country, temperatures in Halle/Westphalia are around 30 degrees Celsius.
16:40
Start is delayed
In the OWL Arena, Andrey Rublev and Yibing Wu start the third set. So Zverev and Thiem have to be patient a little longer.
16:16
sound bites
“I’m happy with my form and I’m playing well, everything is fine. I’m now in a position again where I can come to a tournament and say that I can and want to win it,” said Alexander Zverev in the run-up to the lawn tournament self-confident in Halle/Westphalia. Dominic Thiem, on the other hand, is much quieter: “The main thing now is that we are both fit and healthy on the pitch and that we play a top-class game.”
16:11
Zverev in rising form, Thiem still in crisis
The recovery was tough for both players. Alexander Zverev seems to be getting better and better after reaching the semi-finals at Roland Garros, but he is still unable to win against a top player. Hardly anything goes together at Thiem – the Austrian was recently eliminated from the challengers in Heilbronn and Perugia against no-names.
16:07
Similar ordeals
Both players have a similar history: Dominic Thiem was in third place in the world rankings in his best times, Alexander Zverev was second in this for a short time. A good year ago, Zverev twisted his ankle and tore seven ligaments. At Thiem it was a wrist injury in 2021 that threw him off track.
15:59
Welcome to Halle!
Have a nice afternoon and welcome to a start that couldn’t have been better: Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem meet in Halle for a German-speaking duel.