Dominic Thiem came back from one set down to overcome this year’s Shanghai finalist Borna Coric 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 7-5 after 2 hours and 28 minutes to reach the quarter final at the Paris Rolex Masters at the Accorhotel Arena in Paris Bercy for the first time in his career.
Thiem earned his second break point in the second game, when Coric made a double fault, but the Croatian player saved it. In the fourth game Coric saved another break point at 2-2 with a crosscourt forehand winner.
Both players went on serve in the next service games with no more break points setting up a tie-break. Coric earned three set points at 6-3. Thiem saved the first set point but Coric sealed the tie- break 7-3 on his second chance with a service winner.
Thiem converted his first break point at love in the third game of the second set to take a 2-1 lead. The Austrian player got the double break in the seventh game to open up a 5-2 lead, when Coric netted a forehand. Thiem earned three set points in the eighth game, when Coric sent his return long, and sealed the set on his first chance with a hold at love.
In the decisive set Coric built up a 3-1 lead with a break of serve at 30 with a backhand down the line winner. Thiem earned three break-back points in the fifth game. Coric saved the first break point with a forehand, but Thiem converted his second chance with a backhand down the line. Thiem reeled off his third consecutive game with another break in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. Coric broke back for the second time in the set at 15 to draw level to 4-4, when Thiem netted a backhand. Thiem earned three break points in the 11th game, when Coric netted his forehand. The Austrian player converted his first chance to take the 6-5 lead, when Coric netted a forehand.
Thiem hit his 14th ace to earn a match point and sealed the win when Coric sent his forehand long.
The 2018 French Open is second on the ATP Tour with 52 match wins behind Alexander Zverev, who scored 54 victories.
“It was a great fight from both both of us from the beginning to the end. Borna is in great shape. He has his career-high right now, so I think I was beating one of the best players right now in the world. That makes me happy”,said Thiem.
Kei Nishikori beat Kevin Anderson 6-4 6-4 to set up a blockbluster quarter final against Roger Federer. The Swiss player beat his Japanese rival 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in their recent head-to-head match in Shangahi.
Nishikori converted two of his three break points in the first game of the opening set and in the ninth game of the second set and never faced a break point in the match. With this win Nishikori took the re-match against Anderson, who beat his Japanese rival last weekend in the Vienna final.
