Top-seeded Thiem wins opener in Qatar
Posted January 01, 2018 6:00 am
DOHA, Qatar (AP) - Top-seeded Dominic Thiem started the year with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 first-round win over Evgeny Donskoy of Russia at the Qatar Open on Monday.
Thiem saved two set points in the first set.
"It's nice to be top seeded," the fifth-ranked Austrian said. "The season is going to be very long, and I hope that I can have a good start here."
Seventh-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain beat Dudi Sela of Israel 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 after winning the last 10 games.
Two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic withdrew on Saturday from the Qatar Open, his warm-up tournament for the Australian Open, after saying he still has pain in his right elbow.
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