Paris (AFP)
The Austrian Dominic Thiem, recent winner of the US Open, qualified Wednesday for the 3rd round of Roland Garros by saving three set points in favor of his American opponent Jack Sock, beaten 6-1, 6-3 , 7-6 (8-6).
Thiem will face in the following round the Norwegian Cristian Ruud or the American Tommy Paul.
Sock, former world No. 8 (in 2017) fell back to 310th rank, gradually rose to the level of the double finalist out of Roland-Garros, whom he had never met on clay before.
Until getting three set points in the tie-break of the third set, leading 6-3.
But an ace and four additional points later, it was Thiem who concluded in 2:22, saving himself for the rest of the Parisian fortnight.
"It's very important in the first rounds to save yourself, to play as few sets as possible," said the world No.3.
"Overall I feel good. I'd say I'm still riding the New York wave. Of course at some point, fatigue will catch up with me. But I imagine being focused on Roland Garros hides the fatigue and all the rest. I hope to be able to hold out as long as possible, "he continued.
Thiem inherited the same half of the table as Rafael Nadal, who left him just four games to American Mackenzie McDonald.
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