By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday April 4, 2023
Dominic Thiem eked out his first win since early February on Tuesday in Estoril.
Photo Source: TTV
It wasn’t the vintage Dominic Thiem that we came to know several years ago, when the Australian was one of the premier players in the men’s game with one of the most vicious ground games in the sport. But it was a step in the right direction.
Thiem edged his compatriot Sebastian Ofner 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday at Estoril, booking a second-round clash with American Ben Shelton.
111th-ranked Thiem converted five of 16 break points to rally from a set down and snap a six-match losing streak. The former World No.3 improves to 2-8 on the season.
The two-time Roland-Garros finalist and 10-time clay titlist will have his hands full with rising Shelton. The American improved to 7-6 on the season by winning his ATP clay-court debut, 7-5, 7-5 over Frenchman Constant Lestienne.
Shelton, known for his wicked lefty serve, won 35 of 42 first-serve points and broke Lestienne in the 11th game of both sets. The World No.39 has been traveling well in 2023. He played professionally outside of the United States for the first time at the Australian Open and reached the quarterfinals. He is playing in Europe for the first time this week.
Other winners on Tuesday at Estoril: Frances Luca Van Assche notched his first ATP win 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1 over Pedro Sousa; France’s Quentin Halys defeated hometown fave Nuno Borges 6-3, 6-4; Jurij Rodionov topped Albert Ramos-Vinolas, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4; Portugal’s Joao Sousa, a former champion, topped Italy’s Giulio Zeppieri, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3; Bernabe Zapata Miralles of Spain stopped Portuguese qualifier Henrique Rocha, 6-4, 6-2; Miomir Kecmanovic defeated Italy’s Luca Narda, 6-4, 6-1.