Dominic Thiem battled past Novak Djokovic 7-5 6-7 (10-12) 7-6 (7-5) after 2 hours and 54 minutes to reach his second consecutive title match at the ATP Finals at the O2 Arena in London. Thiem scored his 300th match at tour level and his fifth against a world number 1 player.
The world No.3 scored the fifth win in his 12 head-to-head matches against Djokovic. The Austrian player came back from 0-4 down to win the decisive tie-break 7-5.
Both players served well and Thiem got the only break of the match at 5-5 in the first set.
The opening set went on serve in the first ten games. Djokovic won his first service game, when Thiem netted a forehand in the first game. Thiem hit a great volley at the net in the second game and won his service game after a backhand error from Djokovic.
Djokovic moved ahead 2-1 with a service winner. Thiem held serve at love with a backhand winner to draw level to 2-2. Djokovic hit a forehand winner to take a 3-2 lead in the fifth game.
Djokovic reached deuce in the sixth game, but Thiem held serve. Djokovic rallied from 0-30 down by winning four consecutive points on serve to win the seventh game. Thiem held serve at love to draw level to 4-4- Djokovic won the ninth game with a service winner and came two points away from winning the first set on return in the tenth game, but Thiem held serve at deuce to draw level to 5-5. Thiem earned his first break point in the 12th game with a forehand winner and converted it to take a 6-5 lead, when Djokovic made a volley error. Thiem converted his first set point with an ace after 51 minutes.
Each player wasted a break point in the fifth and eighth games of the second set. After four holds of serve Thiem earned a break point at 2-2, but he wasted his chance, when he netted an easy forehand. Thiem saved a break point at 3-4 with an unreturned serve.
Thiem saved two set points at 5-6 and held serve after two deuces to set up a tie-break. Thiem earned an early mini-break to take a 2-0 lead with a service winner. Djokovic got the mini-break back to take a 4-2 lead after winning four consecutive points. Thiem hit a forehand drive-volley winner to draw level to 4-4 and hit two service winners to earn a match point at 6-5. Djokovic fended it off with his serve, but he faced a second match point at 6-7 after a volley error. Thiem wasted the second match point with a double fault. Djokovic earned a set point after a backhand error from Thiem. Djokovic did not convert it after a forehand error from Djokovic. Thiem earned his third match point with a forehand winner.
Thiem earned his fourth match point with a smash winner, but Djokovic hit a forehand down the line winner and moved ahead 11-10 with a service winner. The Serbian player converted his second set point forcing the match to the third set, when Thiem hit a backhand into the net.
Both players dropped just two points in the first three service games to draw level to 3-3 in the third set. Thiem reached deuce at 4-3 on return at 4-3 but Djokovic hit two service winners. Thiem won the ninth game forcing Djokovic to serve to stay in the match. Djokovic held serve with a forehand winner.
Thiem won the 11th game when Djokovic made a backhand error securing a tie-break. Djokovic held serve at 15 setting up a second tie-break. Thiem made a double fault in the first point. Djokovic hit two service winners to open up a 3-0 lead. Thiem rallied from 0-4 down by winning five consecutive points to take a 5-4 lead. Thiem earned two match points with a backhand crosscourt winner and converted his second chance and his sixth overall match point at 7-5 with a forehand shot to reach his second consecutive championships match.
The last player to reach consecutive finals was Djokovic, who got through to the title match each year from 2012 to 2016.
Thiem has won five of his seven most recent head-to-head matches against Djokovic, including two wins at the ATP Finals. Thiem joins Andy Murray as the only players to beat each member of the Big Three on five or more occasions.
Thiem will take on either Daniil Medvedev or Rafael Nadal in tomorrow’s final.
“It was a mental battle. I got so tight in the second-set tie-break, because to play these legends is always going to be something special. Playing for the final at the Nitto ATP Finals is something very special and I thought about that after my first big title in New York. Maybe I am going to be a little bit more calm, but that was a mistake. I was tight and as nervous as before. It was so much on the edge that match, like every single match here. The best players in the world are facing off. So I am incredibly happy to be through and try to get ready for tomorrow”, said Thiem.
Djokovic ends the year with a 41-5 record and four titles (Australian Open, Dubai, Western and Southern Open in New York and Rome).
“The difference was that when you hit full power, sometimes it goes out. He did everything right from 0-4 in the third-set tie-break. I have to put my hats down and say, congratulations. I actually did not play bad any points after 4-0. I thought in every point. I was in it. I did hit the ball. I was not pushing the ball, but he just smashed it and he just played great”, said Djokovic.
