Dominic Thiem Prevails In ‘Toughest Straight-Sets’ Win Of Career To Book US Open Title Showdown With Zverev - UBITENNIS

Dominic Thiem Prevails In ‘Toughest Straight-Sets’ Win Of Career To Book US Open Title Showdown With Zverev

After disposing of Daniil Medvedev, the world No.3 looks ahead to his title match in New York.

By Adam Addicott
6 Min Read

Second seed Dominic Thiem is a match away from winning his maiden Grand Slam title after battling his way past Daniil Medvedev at the US Open on Friday evening.

The world No.3 held his nerve to see off the Russian 6-2, 7-6(7), 7-6(5), and move into the final of a major for the fourth time in his career. Thiem withstood 12 aces fired by Medvedev and even produced fewer winners than him (22-29) but managed to capitalize on his rivals costly unforced error count of 44. Despite the straightforward score, Thiem was tested throughout and had to come back from a break down in the last two sets played before prevailing in the tiebreakers.

“Exactly what happened was what I was expecting, he’s one of very few guys who is super close to the big three in terms of playing first of all on a very high level, then second of all holding this level for however long the match takes. That’s what he did.” Thiem said of Medvedev afterwards.
“Sets two and three were very high level. We could have both won it probably. He was even slightly the better player until he served for the (second) set,”
he added.

Heading into the match Medvedev hadn’t lost a set in the entire tournament and crushed Thiem 6-3, 6-1, in their previous meeting at the 2019 Rogers Cup in Canada. The Austrian says he managed to turn his fortunes around with the help of a game plan that saw him use a variety of shots. The two are known for their baseline hitting but Thiem played 29 shots at the net and won 22 of them.

“I think if I play like his rhythm, I have no chance because he just doesn’t miss when I play with his rhythm,” he said.
“So I tried to destroy that a little bit with a lot of slices and also with high balls with a lot of spin. That was what was the plan.’
“This was a great match on a very high level. It was probably the toughest straight-set win I ever had. I mean, could have been easily one, two sets down.”

It is the second consecutive Grand Slam where Thiem has reached a final after the Australian Open in January. On that occasion he led the match by two sets at one point before losing in five.

Zverev awaits

Standing in Thiem’s way of his first US Open trophy is Alexander Zverev who staged a marathon comeback in his semi-final match. The German looked to be on his way out before fighting back against Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta to prevail 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3. Making him the sixth player in the Open Era to have come back from two sets down in a US Open semi-final.

The 27-year-old does have the upper hand when it comes to his rivalry with Zverev after winning seven out of their nine previous meetings on the Tour. Furthermore, he has won their three most recent matches which also include the Australian Open this year.

“I know what Sascha is capable of. The last match we had in Australia, we were both really, really good. It was such a close match,” he reflected.
“From the moment Novak (Djokovic) was out of the tournament, it was clear that there’s going to be a new Grand Slam champion. From that moment on, that was also out of my mind. I was just focusing on the remaining guys left in the draw.’
“Now it’s Sascha remaining, the last one, my opponent in the finals. I will fully focus on him and just go into that match like in all the other matches I was going in so far in this tournament.’
“He’s a hell of a player. One of the greatest ones in recent years. Won all titles besides a major.“

Undoubtedly the upcoming match will be Thiem’s biggest opportunity yet to win a major title. In his three previous finals, he has lost to Rafael Nadal at the French Open twice and Djokovic in the Australian Open. Two men who hold the records for winning the most titles of all time at those tournaments.

“I’m super happy that I gave myself another chance to be in the finals, pretty quick after Australia. Going to be a great one against a very good friend and a great rival,” he concluded.

The clash between Thiem and Zverev will be the youngest Grand Slam final since the 2012 Australian Open.

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