Tournament in Zadar

Neumayer wins red-white-red duel against Thiem jaaaa xxx

Lukas Neumayer advanced to the quarterfinals in Zadar.(Bild: Lukas Neumayer)

Lukas Neumayer from Radstadt defeats Austria's former number one at the Challenger tournament in Zadar. The 21-year-old surprisingly outclassed Dominic Thiem in two sets. The man from Salzburg is through to the quarter-finals, Thiem continues his negative trend.

Who would have thought it? Lukas Neumayer not only defeated Austria's former number one Dominic Thiem at the Tennis Challenger in Zadar (Croatia), but humiliated him in two sets 6:2 and 6:1. "I'm over the moon, my performance was really good," beamed the man from Radstadt, who didn't give up a single service.

But the sportsman admitted: "The result might be a bit of a lie. The first set was extremely long and luck was on my side after that too." Including in the second set, when Neumayer was 2:0 up and the top seed Thiem had several chances to break back. But in the end - as in many other close matches - it was the world number 219 and not the 2020 US Open winner who took the point.

Neumayer, who has never made it past the quarter-finals this year, was a little relieved after his success in the red-white-red duel: "I hope it was the final point. I know I'm playing well, but I've never been rewarded." The tennis ace never let it get her down and continued to work consistently: "I always do everything the same."

Feasible draw
While this is the next major setback for Thiem, the 21-year-old is looking ahead to tomorrow's quarter-finals. The qualifier Jonas Forejtek is a doable draw there. "I've been watching him, it will certainly be a difficult match."

Thiem recorded another success on Monday after several setbacks. The top seed from Lower Austria won his opening match against the Serbian world number 446 Filip Krajinovic 6:2 and 7:6(4). Neumayer only played on Tuesday and progressed easily against Frenchman Mathys Erhard with 6:3, 6:2.