After Thiem and Ofner

Out! Julia Grabher also heads home

Austria is no longer represented in the singles competitions of the US Open after the opening round. After Dominic Thiem's clear 4:6, 2:6, 2:6 defeat in his Grand Slam farewell against the US American Ben Shelton and Ofner's defeat against the Argentinian number 29 seed Francisco Cerundolo (7:5, 4:6, 4:6 and 2:6), Julia Grabher now also has to go home.

The player from Vorarlberg lost to Elena-Gabriela Ruse from Romania 2:6 and 4:6. Ofner had previously lost to Cerundolo, as she did in their first direct duel in Miami this year. Due to his persistent heel problems, the loss was not unexpected. "I felt the pain a bit more during the match, so I'll decide in the next few days and weeks what to do next," said Ofner. Together with the team, they will discuss what solutions could be found to get the problem with the so-called "Haglund heel", as it is medically called, under control.

Out after 1:12 hours
Grabher was in action a few hours later and failed to win a set. Although she was able to make up for a break she conceded in the first game to make it 2:2, the Romanian qualifier took the Vorarlberg player's serve several more times to make it 3:2 and 5:2. In the second set, a break to 2:1 on Court 14 was decisive for Ruse. After 1:12 hours, the match was over in favor of the 26-year-old world number 122.

"I didn't play well enough in the important situations, she was better there," summarized Grabher. So soon after the defeat, after which the disappointment was clearly palpable, it was difficult to see positive things. "But I was fully involved for long stretches and she played quite well," said Austria's top player. Grabher had also lost in the opening round at the Olympics. The road back after suffering a wrist injury at the end of August 2023 is not an easy one for the 28-year-old.

Elena-Gabriela Ruse(Bild: AFP/APA/Getty Images via AFP/GETTY IMAGES/Mike Stobe)

Financial consolation
If not in sporting terms, the appearance in Flushing Meadows was at least worthwhile for the ÖTV trio from a financial perspective, with the first-round losers pocketing 100,000 dollars (89,581 euros). Grabher will continue at ITF level next week at the W75 tournament in Vienna on clay. "Then I'll play a few Challengers, i.e. smaller tournaments, so that I can get to my matches and win a few matches," said Grabher.