French Open 2024

Sebastian Ofner against Sebastian Baez – LIVE today

Sebastian Ofner

(Bild: GEPA)

What fighting spirit, what nerves of steel, what a magnificent performance: Sebastian Ofner triumphed again at the French Open 2024 after being 2-0 down! Just three days after his five-set victory against France's Terence Atmane, the 28-year-old Styrian also prevailed against Argentina's Sebastian Baez after a supposedly decisive 3:6 and 3:6, winning the last three sets 6:4, 7:5 and 7:6. "I can't believe I managed to turn it around!" said Ofi jubilantly.

The "Krone" reports from Paris!

Ofner started his match against Baez a day late. The Austrian soon had to prove his fighting and comeback qualities again. The Argentinian broke him straight away to make it 2:0, but a break doesn't necessarily mean much against the 1.70-metre tall clay-court rumbler. Ofi began to act with better length, especially working on the little Gaucho's backhand and came back to 2:3, but promptly caught the re-break again. Cheered on by a good 20 Austrian fans, the 28-year-old Styrian once again showed his huge heart. He fended off a total of five set points, but still lost the first round 3:6.

After 1:19 hours, Baez led 6:3, 6:3
Ofner started the second set with a fantastic stop. "Gemma Ofi! Let's go!" roared the home crowd. But Baez dug out one ball too many and broke again to make it 2:1. Then the rain set in, not at the worst time for Ofi. It didn't help much at first. After the break, Baez played as if from a single mold. Only 1:19 hours had been played when the world number 20 was leading 6:3, 6:3.

Now the Austrian resorted to other means and tried to use the surprise effect. He successfully scattered stops several times and also ventured a trip or two to the net. It paid off. With a powerful forehand, he took the break for 2:1! Shortly afterwards, there was a second rain interruption. It didn't slow Ofner's momentum. The Styrian now blossomed completely, dictated the action with even more powerful, precise groundstrokes, hardly made any more mistakes and pulled away to 5:2 with another break - then the rain set in for the third time...

Almost three hours break
In contrast to the first two breaks, it now took almost three hours for the two opponents to return to Court 3. Baez got off to the better start. He got a break back, but Ofner kept his cool and served out for 6:4. The Austrian now pushed himself even harder than before, breaking for 1:0 in front of his parents, training coach Steve Rettl and physio Stefan Trost and then repeatedly showing nerves of steel, especially on crucial points. In his next three service games, he fended off a total of five break points before Baez equalized at 4:4. Ofner, however, was not deterred by this and broke again to make it 6:5 and, as in his first round match against Terence Atmane, forced a deciding set after trailing 0:2.

Four break points fended off
The 28-year-old once again showed his cool in this set, fending off two break points in his first service game. He then had a bit of luck when Baez missed a "penalty" on his third chance, putting a volley out of bounds, and Ofi saved the fourth with a service winner to make it 1:1. That clearly annoyed Baez. He then gave away his own serve with four errors. However, the Argentinian held on and his fight was finally rewarded as he equalized again to make it 4:4.

The momentum now seemed to be tipping in the Argentine's favor, with Ofner falling behind again and again. But the Styrian's big heart rebelled against the threat of elimination - and he actually made it into the tie-break. In this, Ofner lost a 2:0 lead for once, but from 2:2 in the meantime, Austria's great tennis hope ran away with five points in a row to 7:2 - ultimately too great a burden for Baez, who was no longer able to take advantage of Ofner's slight nervousness at the prospect of victory. After 4:13 hours of pure playing time, the victory was in the bag for Ofner - and another great triumph.

"Mentally anything but easy"
His relief was immense. "I'm pretty exhausted, I started cramping in both thighs in the Champions tie-break. Indescribable, 0:2 sets again - I played really well from the third set onwards."

Of course, it was difficult for him to deal with the rain breaks. "You actually have to stay on your toes all the time, keep your focus. You never know when it's going to start again. It's anything but easy mentally."