Vienna
Darderi sinks Thiem, ends Austrian’s profession in Vienna
Italian will play Draper subsequent at ATP 500
October 22, 2024
Georg Hochmuth/APA/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Luciano Darderi defeats Dominic Thiem on Tuesday evening on the Erste Financial institution Open.
By Andy West
Luciano Darderi had little time for sentiment on Tuesday on the Erste Financial institution Open in Vienna.
The Italian dialled in for a 7-6(6), 6-2 triumph towards Dominic Thiem within the last match of the previous World No. 3’s profession. Darderi stored his cool in a raucous environment on the Wiener Stadthalle, the place he edged Thiem in a good opening set earlier than accelerating to a 91-minute victory.
It isn’t goodbye. It is goodbye 💙#DankeDomi | @ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/keOAKBtOgJ
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 22, 2024
The 17-time tour-level champion Thiem produced some trademark moments of brilliance in his last outing as a professional, together with a few rasping backhand winners that had the house followers on their toes. But Darderi, the No. 42 within the PIF ATP Rankings, didn’t let the event get the higher of him and was in the end a deserved winner on his Vienna debut.
After Darderi hammered a forehand to safe his win, he was congratulated on the web by Thiem. The Austrian was then in flip saluted by his dwelling crowd, and he additionally gave a brief on-court speech to thank them for his or her help.
“I’ve had so many good goodbyes in the previous few months, however right this moment I need to say thanks for all of the sensational years,” stated Thiem. “I’m solely part of this profession. The entire journey has been an absolute dream and I need this afternoon, this night to be yours. I could not have imagined it any higher. Thanks!”
Thiem had opened a 4-2 lead early in his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head conflict with Darderi, however the 22-year-old Italian responded fantastically and completed the match having transformed three of 5 break factors he earned, in accordance with Infosys ATP Stats.
Darderi arrived in Vienna on a seven-match dropping streak, however he’ll now head into his second-round assembly with seventh seed Jack Draper, a 7-6(5), 7-5 winner towards Kei Nishikori, filled with confidence. The Cordoba champion Darderi, who had earned just one tour-level win previous to 2024, is 24-23 for the season.
