Dominic Thiem was thrilled about securing his first win of the season as he noted that Buenos Aires is one of his favorite places to play tennis. After losing his first four matches of the year, Thiem defeated Alex Molcan 7-6 (4) 6-3 to progress into the Buenos Aires round-of-16.
Thiem, 29, is a two-time Buenos Aires champion, having won the tournament in 2016 and 2018. “It was a good match. I like it a lot here in Buenos Aires. Already the last days in practice I was feeling well. I won my first match of the season against a very good opponent.
I stayed focused throughout the whole match, as well in the difficult moments. So I’m happy and I’m trying to focus fully on the second round now,” Thiem said, per the ATP website.
How Thiem defeated Molcan?
The first break of the match was seen in the second game of the match, when Thiem saved a break point to tie the first set to one game apiece.
After saving an early break point, Thiem earned the first break of the match in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead. Just when it seemed the first set was over, Thiem didn’t manage to serve out for the match in the 12th game as Molcan broke back to send the opener into a decider.
However, Thiem kept his focus as he won four consecutive points from 1-1 to open a 5-1 lead. Molcan responded by winning three points in a row to cut the deficit to 5-4 but Thiem then won the next two points to seal the first set.
In the second set, no break points were seen until the eighth game – when Thiem broke Molcan for a 5-3 lead.Up by a set and a break, Thiem routinely served out for the match in the ninth game. It was the first-ever meeting between Thiem and Molcan. It remains to be seen if Thiem can make a deep run at this week’s ATP 250 event in Buenos Aires.