The 2019 Vienna Erste Bank Open Tournament is set to get underway next week. Tennis fans in Austria are expected to witness great performances as the top tennis players battle out for this title. However, some big names are expected to miss this tournament. Who are they?
Daniil Medvedev, Lucas Pouille, Nick Kyrgios, Kei Nishikori, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer (in Basel), and Rafael Nadal will not be gracing this tennis tournament in Vienna. Nick Kyrgios was the first one to withdraw from the tournament, citing a shoulder injury. The Australian is set to return during the next ATP Cup. He was then joined by Daniil Medvedev who suggested that he needs some substantial time to rest and be 100% fit. Earlier on, Medvedev withdrew from the Moscow River Cup 2019.
The Russian has been participating in various tennis competitions in the last couple of weeks. He was able to win the Shanghai Masters, besides making the finals of the US Open. Perhaps he needs time to rest and recover from fatigue. Tennis fans are not pleased with the unexpected news which was announced by Herwig Straka, Vienna’s Erste Bank Open Tournament Director.
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic won’t feature in Vienna
Besides Daniil Medvedev, there will be no sight of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in Vienna Erste Bank Open Tournament. The three most beloved tennis players have various valid reasons as to why they will not feature in Vienna. Roger Federer will be back home participating in Swiss Indoors Basel. The Serbian and the Spaniard will participate in an exhibition event to be held in Kazakhstan.
Daniil Medvedev would have used this competition in Vienna to prove to tennis fans just how good he has become. Already he has overtaken Roger Federer and now sits at position three in the year to date rankings as the ATP race heads to London. With no doubt, the Russian is one of the best next-generation.
Thiem to clash vs. Tsonga in the first round
With some great names already out of the Vienna tournament, Thiem, Khachanov, Berrettini, and Shapovalov are among the top favorites in winning the Erste Bank Open Tournament. Nevertheless, they will have to go past some serious opponents who will be participating in this tournament. Thiem is expected to play against Tsonga in his first round.
Dominic Thiem has never reached in the finals of any ATP men’s tournament held in Austria. The world number 5 will be hoping to start on the right foot by defeating Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in his first game. Tsonga, the 2011 champion enjoys an amazing head to head statistic against Thiem. The two tennis players have met twice in 2013 Erste Bank Open and BNP Paribas Open with Tsonga winning all their previous encounters.
Daniil Medvedev’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.4 (career-high), Medvedev played his last match on the 13th of October when he defeated Alexander Zverev 6-4 6-1 in the final in Shanghai to win his 7th career title.
This year the Russian has a 58-17 win-loss record. Daniil clinched 4 titles in 2019 in Sofia, in Cincinnati, in St. Petersburg and in Shanghai. The Russian was the finalist in Brisbane, in Barcelona, in Washington, in Montreal and at the U.S. Open.
Daniil Medvedev |
| Embed from Getty Images |
