Dominic Thiem received off the mark for the 2023 ATP Tour season with a top quality win on Tuesday evening on the Argentina Open. The previous World No. 3 defeated seventh seed Alex Molcan 7-6(4), 6-3 in Buenos Aires, breaking by in his fifth match of the yr.

“It was a superb match,” mentioned Thiem, who gained the Buenos Aires title in 2016 and 2018. “I prefer it so much right here in Buenos Aires. Already the final days in apply I used to be feeling nicely.

“I gained my first match of the season towards an excellent opponent. I stayed focussed all through the entire match, as nicely within the troublesome moments. So I am completely satisfied and I am attempting to focus totally on the second spherical now.”

Thiem and Molcan traded breaks from 5-5 within the opening set, with Thiem racing to a 5/1 lead within the tie-break after failing to serve out the set. The 29-year-old Austrian didn’t face a break level in set two as he improved to 12-1 in Buenos Aires with the victory.

Subsequent up for Thiem is Peruvian qualifier Juan Pablo Varillas, a 6-2, 7-5 winner towards Joao Sousa earlier on Tuesday. Third seed Lorenzo Musetti is a possible third-round opponent on the ATP 250.