Thiem rallies past Ofner to reach Kitzbühel last eight

Dominic Thiem advanced to the last 8 of the Generali Open by defeating qualifier Sebastian Ofner 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 at Kitzbühel Tennis Club on Wednesday afternoon.

Thiem, ranked No 199, will play German Yannick Hanfmann next.

The Austrian has now won seven of his last nine matches on tour, after coming through a difficult period that saw him take a nine-month hiatus due to wrist and hand injuries.

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“It was an unbelievable atmosphere once again,” said Thiem, the 2019 champion at Kitzbühel. “A great afternoon to play tennis again, and I’m really happy that I got the win.”

It was a tense affair that saw Thiem rally from a break down twice in the final set to emerge victorious.

“It was a great fight at the end and I’m happy to be through,” said Thiem. “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 straightaway twice again. If he holds his serve and goes away in the third set probably it’s going to be a different outcome.”

Since ending his 10-match tour-level losing streak at Bastad, Thiem has now won seven of nine contests, and is now up to 167 in the Pepperstone ATP live rankings, from 346 in July.

In the previous round of the Kitzbuhel, Dominic Thiem won against Russian lucky loser Alexander Shevchenko (6-4, 6-2).

Ofner, ranked No 235, edged out Frenchman Richard Gasquet (1-6, 7-5, 7-5) during the first round of the Kitzbuhel.

Kitzbühel ATP 250, other second-round matches (Kitzbühel Tennis Club, clay, EUR 597.900, most recent results first):

• Dusan Lajovic vs. Aslan Karatsev
• Jiri Lehecka beat João Sousa (8): 7-6 (6), 1-6, 6-3
• Filip Misolic (WC) beat Pablo Andujar: 6-4, 6-0
• Yannick Hanfmann beat Ivan Gakhov (LL): 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4
• Roberto Bautista Agut (3) beat Jurij Rodionov (WC): 6-1, 6-4
• Pedro Martinez (7) beat Federico Coria: 6-4, 6-3
• Albert Ramos-Vinolas (5) beat Juan Pablo Varillas: 6-3, 6-4

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