The Vienna crowd will give a bittersweet farewell to their most iconic champion in Dominic Thiem as he is set to take part in his final tournament at the ATP 500 there. Will he be able to bow out in style? We also predict the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
ATP Vienna Day 2 Predictions
Lorenzo Musetti vs Lorenzo Sonego
Head-to-Head: First Meeting
Lorenzo Musetti bounced back from a slow start to the year with consistent results, climbing back into the top 20. However, his momentum stalled due to fitness issues, as he struggled in defeats to Bu Yunchaokete in Beijing and David Goffin in Shanghai. Now, Musetti needs to regain form, but indoor hard courts remain a challenge. He went winless on them last year and is 1-2 in 2024. His previous Vienna campaigns in 2021 and 2023 ended in first-round exits without winning a set. Lorenzo Sonego, by contrast, has a solid track record on indoor hard courts. He ended a four-match losing streak last week in Stockholm by beating Marc-Andrea Huesler, before losing in a close match to Casper Ruud. One of his career highlights came in Vienna in 2020 when he stunned Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-1 en route to finishing as the runner-up.
Prediction: Sonego in 2
Francis Tiafoe vs Cameron Norrie
Head-to-Head: Norrie 3:1 Tiafoe
Francis Tiafoe shook off the season long dip in form with strong performances during the North American swing but seem to be slipping back into indifferent form again, registering just two wins in the weeks since his semifinal finish at the US Open. He risks further decline if he doesn’t quickly turn things around here. Cameroon Norrie has been struggling for much longer than his opponent, contending with injuries and an overall dip in form. Norrie knows what it takes to beat Tiafoe and will look to capitalize on that experience as well as his opponent’s recent struggle with form to register a rare win.
Prediction: Norrie in 3
Kei Nishiokori vs Jack Draper
Head-to-Head: Draper 1:0 Nishiokori
Jack Draper’s Asian swing was cut short after he was forced to retire in his quarterfinal match against Ugo Humbert. He looks to get back to winning ways and push closer to the top 10 in the rankings before the end of the year. Kei Nishiokori meanwhile faces a tough challenge as he hasn’t managed a win against a top 20 player since the end of 2021. A mission that will be almost impossible if Draper is back to full fitness.
Prediction: Draper in 2
Dominic Thiem vs Luciano Darderi
Head-to-Head: First Meeting
Dominic Thiem will be playing his final official tournament in his home event after announcing his retirement earlier this year. His future looked promising after winning his first Grand Slam at the 2020 US Open. With his dominance on clay and Rafael Nadal’s decline, he seemed poised to become a top player on the surface. However, injuries derailed his career, and he has struggled to stay in the Top 100. Despite efforts to regain his form, Thiem has decided to retire, making this tournament in front of his home crowd his final appearance.
Fans and organizers in Vienna are celebrating his career, as this venue has been a significant part of his journey since 2010, where he also won his last ATP title in 2019. Luciano Darderi, meanwhile, is in a tough spot. After a rare indoor hard court appearance in Stockholm, where he lost to Matteo Berrettini, Darderi remains on a seven-match losing streak. He hasn’t won since retiring at the Cincinnati Masters in August and is clearly struggling physically. Thiem is aiming for one final win, and with Darderi’s poor form and lack of experience on indoor courts, this seems like a great chance for him to do so.
Prediction: Thiem in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
