The former world number three defeats the hosts’ number one and puts the ÖTV team in the lead.
Austria’s Davis Cup team is on the road to success in Limerick: The men’s national team of ÖTV sports director and Davis Cup captain Jürgen Melzer took the first step back towards World Group I on Saturday in the UL Sport Arena. Dominic Thiem was responsible for this, the 2020 US Open winner put Austria ahead 1-0 in the away play-off match against Ireland. However, Michael Agwi (ATP 935) made things extremely difficult for the Lower Austrian (ATP 90), especially in the first set, before he defeated Ireland’s number one with 7: 6 (6), 6:3. With this, Sebastian Ofner could then take the hoped-for 2-0 lead for red-white-red after the first matchday. The Styrian (ATP 40) will face Irish number two Osgar O’Hoisin (ATP 1015). The international match is only live on ÖTV TV, below www.oetv.tv, to see. Fritz Hutter comments, accompanied by ex-world-class player Alexander Peya as experts.
Tricky first sentence brings preliminary decision for Thiem
The week before last, Agwi reached his first final at an ITF M15 tournament in Cadolzburg in Germany, thereby indicating his not necessarily low potential. Thiem had therefore warned himself in the run-up to the opening game: “Nowadays, if someone plays in the final with a Future, they can play really well.” He therefore has to make full use of his form and his tennis, “otherwise there can be nasty surprises” – words , which should then be confirmed on the pitch. In the role of the blatant outsider, Agwi played quite carefree from the start, served well and, as the first set continued, found his way into the game better from the baseline, where he initially showed some weaknesses. So he was able to keep the passage more than just open until the end. Thiem managed the first break to make it 3:2, but the rebreak quickly followed to make it 3:3, with a double fault to finish. When the man from Lichtenwörth was able to make it 6:5 again, the spell seemed to have already been broken, but instead it went into a tiebreak after two double errors, a smash error and a stopping error.
This was not for the faint of heart. After his fifth double fault in the first set, Thiem even fell behind 3:6 and was faced with three set points. However, the 30-year-old remained calm in this relatively tricky situation, used his experience against his opponent, who was ten years his junior, and had luck on his side with one or two close balls to make the quick decision with five points in a row to get on his side. Things went easier for Thiem in the second set: an early break to zero to make it 2-0 put him further on the winning path, he only had to fend off another break ball at 3-1 and was able to breathe a sigh of relief after two more confident service games . “It was great, a great atmosphere,” said Thiem, thanking the audience after his victory during the interview in the completely sold-out hall. And also explicitly with the local fans who traveled with them, among whom ÖTV Vice President Georg Blumauer and ÖTV Managing Director for Economic Affairs Thomas Schweda also mingled.
Much praise for Agwi: “He has great potential”
Thiem then had a lot of praise for his opponent: “Of course, Michael had nothing to lose. He really played a great match, it was really difficult to play against him. I hope he can continue to work his way up the rankings if he continues like this. He has great potential. The service is really outstanding, but the rest of the game is also really good. All the best to him! And thank you for this warm welcome.”
Davis Cup 2024, World Group I play-off in Limerick
Ireland – Austria 0:1
Saturday, 1:00 p.m. CET
Michael Agwi – Dominic Thiem 6:7 (6), 3:6
Osgar O’Hoisin – Sebastian Ofner (live on ÖTV TV at www.oetv.tv)
Sunday, 12:00 p.m. CET
Conor Gannon / David O’Hare – Alexander Erler / Lucas Miedler (live on ÖTV TV at www.oetv.tv)
Michael Agwi – Sebastian Ofner (live on ÖTV TV at www.oetv.tv)
Osgar O’Hoisin – Dominic Thiem (live on ÖTV TV at www.oetv.tv)