VIENNA, September 10, 2018
Organizers of the Erste Bank Open 500 revealed the Top 10-players competing in the ATP 500-event at the Stadthalle in Vienna from October 22-28, 2018. The entry list is led by World No. 7 Grigor Dimitrov from Bulgaria. The reigning ATP Finals champion will be joined by US Open semi-finalist Kei Nishikori, #NextGenATP Finals winner Hyeon Chung as well as Australian “enfant terrible” Nick Kyrgios. These four players will come to the Austrian capital for the first time.
Local hero Dominic Thiem will carry the home hopes, seeking his first Vienna crown. “Winning the title here and to qualify for the ATP Finals are my two goals for the rest of the season,” Thiem said during a press conference held at the Vienna State Opera on Monday.
“A short view on the entry list is enough to know that the fans can look forward to another great week in Vienna and I want to do my part,” the World No. 8 added. Thiem will play his first match on “THIEMstag”, Tuesday, 23 October.
Four Top 10-players and six players ranked inside the Top 20 will compete for the title of the ATP 500-event with a total prize money of €2.788.570.
Erste Bank Open 500 Entry list:
1 DIMITROV, Grigor BUL 7
2 THIEM, Dominic AUT 8
3 ANDERSON, Kevin RSA 9
4 ISNER, John USA 10
5 NISHIKORI, Kei JPN 12
6 FOGNINI, Fabio ITA 13
7 SCHWARTZMAN, Diego ARG 14
8 EDMUND, Kyle GBR 16
9 CORIC, Borna CRO 18
10 POUILLE, Lucas FRA 19
11 RAONIC, Milos CAN 20
12 CARRENO BUSTA, Pablo ESP 21
13 CHUNG, Hyeon KOR 23
14 GASQUET, Richard FRA 24
15 KHACHANOV, Karen RUS 25
16 KYRGIOS, Nick AUS 27
17 DZUMHUR, Damir BIH 28
18 VERDASCO, Fernando ESP 29
19 JOHNSON, Steve USA 30
20 KOHLSCHREIBER, Philipp GER 36
21 RAMOS-VINOLAS, Albert ESP 55
22 QUERREY, Sam USA 61
23 TSONGA, Jo-Wilfried FRA 73
Tournament director Herwig Straka is in close contact with Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. “All three players are still an option to join the field but we still want to see what’s happening during upcoming tournament weeks,” said Straka.
Jürgen Melzer has been awarded the first of three wild cards for the singles main draw. The 37-year-old Austrian will finish his professional singles career in Vienna. Melzer lifted the trophy here in 2009 as well as in 2010.
