The field features five top ten aces and no fewer than twelve stars from the world's top 20 tennis players. With US Open semi-finalist Ben Shelton, one of the hottest future stocks on the ATP Tour is also making his first appearance in Vienna this year.
To be among the eight seeded players at the Erste Bank Open, you currently need position 14 in the ATP ranking! World number three and defending champion Daniil Medvedev leads the provisional seedings ahead of Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE/5), Andrey Rublev (6), Jannik Sinner (ITA/7), Alexander Zverev (GER/10), Frances Tiafoe (USA/11), Tommy Paul (USA/13) and Karen Khachanov (14). Behind them, Cameron Norrie (GBR/16), Lorenzo Musetti (ITA/18), Grigor Dimitrov (BUL/19) and Ben Shelton (USA/20) are four other top-20 stars.
This top-class "line-up" means that there could already be a number of highlight matches in the first round. According to the current status, it is possible that there could be a clash between Jannik Sinner and Grigor Dimitrov in the opening round. Or even a hammer match between Daniil Medvedev and Ben Shelton would be conceivable. As a reminder, Medvedev recently reached the final of the US Open, and Shelton stormed into the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in New York. At the start of the season, the 20-year-old US super talent from Atlanta had already reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Vienna debut for Shelton
Picture: (c) Paul Zimmer
Ben Shelton also made headlines at the US Open with his serves. The son of former professional player Bryan Shelton thundered his service over the net at up to 239 kilometers per hour - thus also setting a speed record at the last Grand Slam tournament of the year. It will be interesting to see how one of the future top stars on the ATP Tour will perform in his Vienna debut. In any case, Shelton fits seamlessly into the ranks of future stars who played in Vienna when they were on the verge of making it to the absolute top of the world. The same applies, by the way, to 19-year-old Frenchman Arthur Fils, who played for Europe at the Laver Cup last weekend and will also be coming to Vienna.
The first round matches at the Erste Bank Open will be played between Monday, October 23, and Wednesday, October 25. The first appearance of Dominic Thiem, who has received a wild card for his home tournament, is scheduled for Tuesday (Oct. 24).
