GOOD DAY AT THE BARCELONA OFFICE FOR GUNTHER BRESNIK’S “THIEM” by Ricky Dimon

Written by: on 22nd April 2014
BNP Paribas Open
GOOD DAY AT THE BARCELONA OFFICE FOR GUNTHER BRESNIK'S "THIEM" by Ricky Dimon

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  |

Gunther Bresnik has an impressive team–or Thiem, if you will–on his hands these days.

 

Each one of the coach’s two charges in Dominic Thiem and Ernests Gulbis are making moves in 2014. Thiem has more than doubled his previous total of ATP-level, main-draw match victories this season, from six to 13. The 20-year-old started 2014 at 139th in the world and has climbed to No. 80–and counting. Gulbis captured a title in Marseille, reached the Indian Wells quarterfinals, and peaked at a career-high of No. 18 in late February and early March.

 

Both players advanced to the third round of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Tuesday. Gulbis held off Daniel Gimeno-Traver 7-5, 7-6(1) and Thiem took out 14th seed Marcel Granollers 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

 

“Beat the world number 31 in his home tournament,” Thiem posted on his Facebook page afterward (translated from German). “Such a tough match. Due to the rain the conditions were so slow, it was nearly impossible to hit winners. Such a crazy fight and physically so demanding for both of us, such intense rallies. And so many tight games…. Sooo proud. Such an important win.”

 

The Austrian had already picked up three important wins in Barcelona prior to Tuesday. He went through two rounds of qualifying then beat Radek Stepanek 6-4, 6-4 on Monday. That victory happened to come on his coach’s birthday.

 

“As it’s Gunther’s birthday, I had to win,” Thiem wrote. “It’s strictly forbidden to lose on your coach’s birthday.”

 

Bresnik will hope to continue the success of his birthday week on Thursday. Gulbis awaits either Alexandr Dolgopolov or Albert Montanes while Thiem will go up against either Fabio Fognini or Santiago Giraldo.

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