MADRID: Dominic Thiem survived a scare to progress to the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open for the third consecutive year.
The Austrian fifth seed overcame a roller-coaster performance to see of Argentina’s Federico Delbonis 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. During some of the clutch moments of the match, Thiem buckled at the worst possible time. During the opening set he dropped serve for the first time whilst training 4-5 to fall behind. Then in the decider he double faulted whilst serving for the match at 5-4 in his favor. Despite the blips, the 24-year-old battled his way across the finish line.
“It was a really bad start, but in general I was really pumped up all the time.” Evaluated Thiem. “I think that I need to be like that in every match to have even a chance to win. That’s what was the case in this match.
“Physically and mentally I was there all the time in the match. That was the big reason why I won.” He added.
Despite the win, Thiem admits that he needs to make improvements to some aspects of his game. In the next round he will take on Borna Coric, who thrashed Jan-Lennard Struff 6-0, 6-2. Coric is currently 17-7 this season going into the last eight of the Madrid Open.
“I need to play like I did at the end of this match (against Delbonis) because he is playing very well obviously.” Thiem said about the Croat. “He beat Carreno Busta quite easily, beat Struff. He’s in extraordinary shape.
“I can increase my level during a tournament and that is what I am hoping for.”
Looking ahead to the French Open, the world No.7 admits that he is not in the same shape as last year. Highlighted by a thrashing by Rafael Nadal in Monte Carlo followed by a straight sets loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas in Barcelona.
“Right now I am not playing the tennis that I want to.” Admits Thiem. “I can’t set great targets like last year, for example, but everything can change quite quickly. In general, I am playing well, I’m really feeling my strokes well.”
Thiem is tied at 1-1 in his head-to-head with Coric.
Joining Thiem in the next round will be second seed Alexander Zverev. The German featured in the final match of the day on the Manolo Santana stadium. Facing qualifier Evgeny Donskoy, Zverev guided his way to a 7-5, 6-2, win.
“That was good. It was a nice match after a tough week in Munich. I mean honestly, it was great to get a title there, but I came here late.” Zverev said after the match.
“I only had yesterday to practice and tried to get used to the conditions. I felt pretty good on the court.”
Zverev faces Leonardo Mayer in the next round.
