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[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-microphone”] ROUND-1 MATCH RECAP FROM TENNIS HOST ANDY TAYLOR
Pierre-Hugues Herbert -55- (FRA) def [2] Dominic Thiem -08- (AUT)
Pierre-Hugues Herbert is Dominic Thiem’s worst nightmare. The 3-time Grand Slam Doubles champion now owns two career Singles victories over top-10 opponents – both against Austria’s top talent.
The two last met in the 2017 Rotterdam Quarterfinals, where Herbert emerged the victor in a tight two sets 64 76(3). At the time, Pierre-Hugues was the World #109 and had to Qualify to reach the main-draw. Thiem was the World #8. The victory set-up Pierre’s career-best Singles season last year.
Tuesday’s 1st-Rounder in Doha was all Herbert.
With “The Magician” Fabrice Santoro (2000 Doha Champion) in his corner, Pierre-Hugues again confounded the 2-seed with steady serving and exceptional play at the net. Thanks to breaks early in the first and at the tail-end of the second, Herbert proved 2017’s Dutch victory was anything but a fluke.
Up next for Herbert: [Q] Maximilian Marterer -74- (GER)
The top qualifying seed, Max has already endured three matches this week.
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] R1 def Peter Gojowczyk -59- (GER) 61 64
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Q2 def [7] Marco Trungelliti -122- (ARG) 46 64 75
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Q1 def Andrea Arnaboldi -180- (ITA) 36 62 63
Meanwhile, Pierre-Hugues Herbert is still alive in the doubles draw, as well. With his regular partner Nicolas Mahut kicked-back until the Australian Open, Herbert is teamed with David Goffin this week. The two haven’t played together since they were juniors 11-years-ago.
Yesterday, Herbert/Goffin took-out tandem Stan Wawrinka/Karen Khachanov, and will face the 3-seeds Nikola Mektic and Alexander Peya tomorrow. While it’s a day of double duty for Pierre-Hugues, Goffin’s Singles run is done. Earlier today he fell to [Q] Ricardis Berankis -117- (LTU) on center court.
Round-1 Biography | Pierre-Hugues Herbert -55- (FRA)
This 27-year-old is a 3-time Grand Slam Doubles Champion. He captured his 3rd Major Doubles title last year at Roland Garros, but 2018 also proved to be a career-best season in Singles. He earned a career-high 24 Singles victories, reached his 2nd Tour-level Singles Final in Shezhen, and climbed to World #50. In November, he and partner Nicolas Mahut qualified for the year-end ATP Finals for the fourth consecutive year, and reached the championship match for the first time. A Davis Cup Champion, he’s helped lift France to back-to-back Davis Cup Finals over the past two years. Making his Qatar ExxonMobil Open debut, from France – Please welcome Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
Round-1 Biography | [2] Dominic Thiem -08- (AUT)
A Semifinalist here last year, this 25-year-old went on to have a remarkable season that saw him capture 3 Titles, reach 5 Finals, and contest the championship match at a Major for the first time. In May, he defeated World #1 Rafael Nadal en route to his second straight Madrid Masters Final. At Roland Garros, he took-out World #3 Sascha Zverev and became only the second Austrian man in tennis history to reach the championship match at a Grand Slam. With a tremendous 54 match victories, he ended 2018 with his 3rd consecutive appearance in the ATP Finals. Ranked as high as World #4, he now owns 11 ATP Singles Titles in all, and is an 18-time Finalist. Competing in his 3rd Qatar ExxonMobil Open, from Austria, please welcome Dominic Thiem.
