Rodionov Faces de Minaur at Erste Bank Open in Vienna

VIENNA, Austria – Jurij Rodionov is set to play against Australian Alex de Minaur at the Erste Bank Open, which begins on Monday. The match-up follows a draw that took place on Saturday, where comedian Michael Niavarani drew opponents for the players.

Rodionov, who received a wildcard for the tournament due to Sebastian Ofner‘s injury, faces a challenging first-round match against de Minaur, the tournament’s third seed. Meanwhile, Austria’s top player, Filip Misolic, will take on Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli.

In the first round, top star Jannik Sinner will compete against Germany’s Daniel Altmaier. Former Vienna champion Alexander Zverev drew a favorable matchup, having a potential easy path to the quarterfinals.

Rodionov acknowledged the challenge ahead, joking about the luck of the draw. “De Minaur on a fast indoor hard court is probably not pleasant. But you have to take what Niavarani drew,” he remarked. Rodionov previously defeated de Minaur in their only encounter four years ago.

Reflecting on the tournament atmosphere, he expressed, “There will be a great atmosphere in the Stadthalle; it’s always a highlight for me there.” In past tournaments, Rodionov achieved a surprising win over Denis Shapovalov in 2020.

Filip Misolic, currently Austria’s only top-100 player, is looking to break a series of five consecutive losses. He commented on his matchup with Carabelli, stating, “It’s definitely a good draw…but it won’t be an easy match either.” He noted that they have played twice this year, with a 1:1 record.

The Erste Bank Open promises excitement as Austrian players Rodionov and Misolic begin their tournament journeys against formidable opponents.