One day after Ofner’s opening defeat against the Swede Leo Borg (ATP No. 622), the eighth first round defeat in a row, Misolic lost against the Pole Kamil Majchrzak (ATP No. 75) 2:6 2:6. For the number 95 in the world rankings from Styria, currently the only domestic top 100 player, it was the fifth first round out in a row. The 24-year-old has been waiting for a victory in a main ATP competition in Kitzbühel since July.
Misolic, who had successfully fought his way through qualification in Stockholm, couldn’t get into the game at all against Majchrzak. The Pole managed a break to make it 2-1, and after Misolic lost his serve again to make it 2-5, the decision was made in the first set. The second round was exactly the same: Majchrzak took Misolic’s service to make it 2:1 and 5:2, and after 1:21 hours the 29-year-old Pole used his first match point.
Ofner fails at number 622
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Ofner had to cancel his sails in Stockholm on Monday. The current number 140 in the ATP ranking was defeated by the world number 622. Borg clear with 3:6 4:6 in 1:17 hours. The 29-year-old Styrian has not won a game on the tour since July 3rd, a second-round win against Tommy Paul (USA) at the grass Grand Slam tournament in Wimbledon.
Ofner didn’t really find his way into the game in Stockholm against Borg, who competed with a wildcard. In the first set he conceded the break to make it 3:5, and the 22-year-old Swede then served out. Ofner had to accept the next break right at the beginning of the second set, but he managed the rebreak immediately afterwards. The decision was made with Borg’s break to make it 5:4.
Borg celebrates rare success
The son of Sweden’s tennis legend Björn Borg then served his serve and converted his second match point after 1:17 hours of play to make the final score 6:3 6:4. It was only Borg’s second victory on the ATP tour. The 22-year-old celebrated his first in 2023 at the tournament in Bastad against his compatriot Elias Ymer.
Ofner used his “Protected Ranking” at the tournament in the Swedish capital after his injury break following heel operations last year. Most recently, number 140 in the world rankings had to take a break due to wrist problems. At the ATP 1000 tournament in Shanghai, the 29-year-old returned to the tour after a five-week injury break.
Experiences of success in doubles
Meanwhile, there were successes in Sweden’s capital for the doubles Alexander Erler and Robert Galloway (USA) and Neil Oberleitner and David Pichler, who each fought their way into the quarter-finals with two-set wins.
ATP 250 tournament in Stockholm
(Sweden, 706,850 euros, hard court)
