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After some wonderful performances in Moscow, Antwerp and Stockholm, the focus now shifts to the Vienna where the Erste Bank Open will be played from tomorrow.
The tournament will see some of the finest players descend in Vienna, eager to make a statement at the highest level. Some of these players are rank newcomers, while some have already announced themselves on the big stage and have proven their potential many times over.
Last year’s event was won by Kevin Anderson, who will be missing this year. The Big 3 of the tennis world (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic) will not be taking part in the event either. However, there is no shortage of star power in Vienna; here are five players who can make plenty of noise this week:
#1 Dominic Thiem
Dominic Thiem has been steadily improving on all surfaces the last two years. He's always been brilliant on clay, and he finished as the runner-up to Rafael Nadal at the French Open this year. The Austrian also won the Barcelona Open in April, but his hardcourt exploits have been equally impressive: he has won the Indian Wells Masters and Beijing Open this year.
Thiem's destructive forehand combined with his solid serve can trouble any opponent. His quick groundstrokes have outdone many opponents, while his topspin is quite effective on any surface.
Thiem’s calmness helps him during pressure situations; the Austrian has said it helps him focus whenever he plays a tricky opponent. He will be the player to beat at this year's Vienna Open.
#2 Karen Khachanov
Karen Khachanov is another special talent who is likely to make it big in the future.
The Russian won the Open 13 in Marseille in February last year by beating Lucas Pouille of France in the final. He followed that up with wins at the Kremlin Cup and the Paris Masters, and this year he even reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.
However, his form has fallen away since then, and Khachanov would be hoping that doing well at the Erste Bank Open will give him a much-required boost for his title defense in Paris next month.
Khachanov is known to produce power-packed groundstrokes, which can push any opponent behind the baseline. He can also cover a lot of ground with his nimble feet, despite being 6'6" tall.
Khachanov will look to take advantage of the quick surface in Vienna and smother his opponents with his booming serve and forehand.
#3 Gael Monfils
Many believe that Gael Monfils hasn’t done justice to his talent. The Frenchman won the Rotterdam Open in February and was a quarterfinalist at the US Open last month, but he hasn't been able to maintain consistency in the latter half of 2019.
Monfils is one of the quickest players in the history of tennis, and he has been known to track down even the hardest-hit shots. He can also generate plenty of pace on his own serve and forehand, regularly cranking up the speed to unsettle his opponents.
The 32-year-old is one of the few players in the world who can effortlessly transition from defense to offense, and he will be hoping that he can play solidly enough to go deep in Vienna this year.
#4 Andrey Rublev
Andrey Rublev can surprise anyone in the world when he is at his best. Rublev has been touted for great things in the future, and he is already starting to make good on his potential.
Rublev made it to the final of the Hamburg Open in July this year, where he lost to Nikoloz Basilashvili. The 22-year-old also won the Kremlin Cup in Moscow this week, for the second title of his young career.
Rublev's rasping forehand is a force of nature, and he has also improved his backhand massively. He can still make a few too many unforced errors now and then, but the all-round solidity of his game is bound to make him a tough customer in Vienna.
#5 Matteo Berrettini
Matteo Berrettini is one of the most promising Italian players out there. The 23-year-old has had a solid year, and winning the Hungarian Open in April by beating Filip Krajinovic in the final was one of his first successes.
Berrettini then won the Stuttgart Open in June, and followed that up with a maiden Grand Slam semifinal appearance at the US Open.
The strongly built Italian has a big serve and bigger forehand, and can take the racquet out of anyone's hands with his power and precision. He is currently in the running to qualify for a place in the ATP Finals, and a good showing in Vienna will go a long way in helping him achieve that.
