Thiem Looking To Do What Vesely Did Not In Indian Wells

Written by: Staff on 11th March 2014

Thiem Looking To Do What Vesely Did Not In Indian Wells

epa04120912 Dominic Thiem of Austria follows through with a return against Julien Benneteau of France at the BNP Paribas Open tennis in Indian Wells, California, USA, 11 March 2014. EPA/DANIEL MURPHY |

By Ricky Dimon

It was right there for Jiri Vesely’s taking in round three of the BNP Paribas Open on Monday afternoon. Andy Murray was in foul mood even by Andy Murray standards and his game was no better than his demeanor.

The result was a set and a break lead for Vesely, already the youngest man ranked in the Top 100. In fact, the 20-year-old Czech also led by a break in the third after throwing away the second. Visibly feeling the pressure, however, Vesely endured a flurry of double-faults (11 in total) and a complete breakdown of his overhead en route to a 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-2 loss.

“He’s a Top 10 guy, so it’s a very special match for me because I don’t still have so many experience with these guys,” Vesely said of Murray. “So it was a special match for me, and I really have to take all of the positives out of the match.”

Another 20-year-old, Dominic Thiem, is still alive in the single’s draw and will be looking for a lot more than just a moral victory on Tuesday. The Austrian’s draw opened up when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga crashed out in the second round, so Thiem is going up against a different Frenchman–unseeded Julien Benneteau.

He is coming of a straight-set win over yet another Frenchman, 21st-seeded Gilles Simon, in a match that Thiem later recapped on Facebook (how nice would it be if all players did this?).

“7:6, 6:2 against Gilles Simon,” Thiem wrote. “World number 23!! The best player I ever beat. I’m just happy and proud. Was a super match today, nothing to criticise today. Except the first serve percentage in the beginning and that I needed too many breakpoints to break him. But I kept him under pressure, and the backhand was incredible today, the longline winners were pure fun.

A great day for me. Third round in my first ever ATP 1000. Simply incredible. Thanks so much for your support, it obviously helps me a lot! Bamos!!”

Thiem’s game–a huge-hitting style reminiscent of good friend and frequent practice partner Ernests Gulbis–will only generate more and more support from anyone who watches him play, and it may just see him through to the fourth round of a Masters 1000.

Topics: 10sballs, Andy Murray, Atp, BNP Paribas Open, Dominic Thiem, Ernests Gulbis, Indian Wells, Jiri Vesely, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Julien Benneteau, Ricky Dimon, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News

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10sBalls_com says:

March 11, 2014 at 10:22 pm

Thiem Looking To Do What Vesely Did Not In Indian Wells – http://t.co/VC7MRrv7It @ThiemDomi @jiri_vesely #Tennis #News