Vienna opener blends swift wins and gritty upsets
As indoor hardcourts heat up at the Erste Bank Open, third seed Alex de Minaur celebrates a milestone while Tallon Griekspoor topples a higher-ranked foe, signaling the late-season intensity ahead.
In the electric hum of Vienna‘s Wiener Stadthalle, Day 1 of the Erste Bank Open kicked off with a potent mix of efficiency and endurance, as players fine-tuned their games for the ATP Finals push. The fast indoor surface amplified every adjustment, from deep returns to angled groundstrokes, while the crowd’s murmurs built a palpable tension around qualification hopes. Third seed Alex de Minaur set the tone early, dispatching wild card Jurij Rodionov 6-4, 6-1 in a brisk affair that highlighted his tactical poise.
De Minaur‘s milestone fuels late-year drive
De Minaur’s victory marked his 300th career win, a swift start that eases the pressure of end-of-season rankings battles. He targeted Rodionov’s backhand with crosscourt forehands and inside-out backhands, keeping the Austrian pinned and disrupting any home-crowd momentum. This clinical display, clocking under an hour, positions the Australian to conserve energy while climbing the ladder, as detailed in De Minaur notches 300th career win in fast Vienna start.
Across the courts, Alexander Bublik advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 tiebreak win over Alejandro Tabilo, his unpredictable slices and down-the-line winners turning potential pressure into chaotic dominance. The Kazakh saved set points in the second, relying on serve variations to exploit the surface’s speed and maintain psychological control in the rallies.
I will convince my ‘second father’ Cahill to stay in my corner.
Griekspoor’s upset exposes seed vulnerabilities
Tallon Griekspoor delivered the day’s shock, stunning fifth seed Karen Khachanov 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in a two-hour baseline duel that tested mental reserves. The Dutchman used steady crosscourt pressure and inside-in forehands to force errors from Khachanov’s powerful game, capitalizing on the Russian’s fatigue after a grueling year. Griekspoor’s composure in the decider, blending defense with opportunistic lobs, reshuffled the draw and boosted his own year-end prospects.
Brandon Nakashima opened strongly, defeating Luciano Darderi 6-2, 7-5 by dominating with a one–two punch of serve and backhand, pinning the Italian deep in rallies. Qualifier Matteo Arnaldi then edged fellow qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-5, 6-4, varying pace on his forehands to counter the American’s big serving and exploit baseline inconsistencies.
Emerging energies hint at deeper drama
Top seed Jannik Sinner, sitting out Monday but casting a long shadow, expressed resolve to keep coach Darren Cahill close, as shared in Sinner says he will convince ‘second father’ Cahill to stay in my corner, underscoring the emotional stakes in elite partnerships. Meanwhile, Budkov Kjaer, Sinner’s practice partner, ready to unleash the ‘hammer’ in Vienna, brings fresh aggression that could unsettle veterans on these quick courts. With upsets rippling early, the Erste Bank Open sets the stage for redemptions and breakthroughs, where every point echoes the chase for Finals glory.
