No more Austrians at the US Open – Vorarlberger Natterchten

New York Austrian tennis is no longer represented in the main competitions of the US Open in New York after the first round. While no one qualified in the singles, and last year’s winner Dominic Thiem, who turns 28 since Friday, was hurt after Jürgen Melzer the day before, Oliver Marach/Philip Oswald was also eliminated in the doubles opener. He lost the Olympic Round of 16 to Israeli Jonathan Ehrlich and South African Lloyd Harris on Friday 2:6, 7:6 (3), 2:6. The 35-year-olds Oswald and Marach fought their way hard in the second set and clearly won the tiebreak. It is not yet certain if this will be the last Grand Slam of the March, as it was for Melzer (40). The 41-year-old from Graz announced at the start of the year that it would be his last season. At least in the Davis Cup Final in Innsbruck in November, Marach forms a double with Oswald. Then the future of the duo must be determined. Together, in the third set of the US Open opener against Harris (24) and Ehrlich (44), they were no longer able to add more and the set was played to the finish so quickly.

Olympic champion Alexander Zverev reached the third round of the US Open with a show of strength. German Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas finished 6:1, 6:0, 6:3. “It was a good day. I think Albert did not do his best in tennis. I am glad I am in the third round,” Zverev said after the match. He’s someone who sometimes causes problems for top players.”

Day 4 in the rankings will play against Jack Sock of the United States or Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan for a place in the round of 16. Novak Djokovic also qualified for the third round without any problems. He defeated Dutchman Talon Grexburger 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. The Serbian, who is still five wins away from the Grand Slam, said he was very focused from the start. “I hope to hold the cup in my hands at the end,” said the 34-year-old. “Because that’s the reason I’m here.” The world number one’s next hurdle on her way to her fourth major title in the same calendar year is Kei Nishikori. The Japanese reached his only Grand Slam final at Flushing Meadows in 2014. The 31-year-old who lives in Florida is now only number 56 in the world.