Thiem tames Sascha
Melbourne, Jan 31: Tireless Dominic Thiem came from a set down to outlast German Alexander Zverev and make his first Australian Open final Friday, booking a showdown with seven-time champion Novak Djokovic.
The 26-year-old fifth seed, the first player from Austria ever to reach the Melbourne decider, battled past seventh-ranked Zverev 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 76 (7/4) on a sweltering evening.
Defending champion Djokovic awaits him after the second seed ended Roger Federer's dreams in straight sets Thursday to make his eighth Melbourne Park final.
Thiem has his work cut out against the Serb who is on a 12-match unbeaten streak this season and has won all seven of the Australian Open deciders he has contested.
And if Djokovic needs extra motivation, winning on Sunday will see him reclaim the world number one ranking after Rafael Nadal crashed to Thiem in the last eight.
“It was an unreal match, two tie-breakers, so tough and so close. It was almost impossible to break him,” said Thiem.
Thiem had dealt with semifinal pressure before, although always on the slower red clay at Roland Garros.
A jittery Thiem was broken in the opening game, saving two break points before sending a backhand wide to immediately be on the back foot.
Dominic Thiem said a burst of Sweet Caroline during a stadium lights malfunction helped calm his nerves as he fought back from a set down to reach the final.
The Austrian fifth seed was 0-1 down in the third set to Alexander Zverev when the semifinal was halted for nine minutes to fix a light which had gone out behind the baseline. But Thiem said the Neil Diamond classic, played to entertain the crowd during the delay, reminded him of good times on skiing holidays with friends.
“I like this song. I felt like I was in Austria on skiing holidays, because that’s where they play that song all the time. That loosened me up a bit,” Thiem said.
Once play resumed, Thiem went on to win the third and fourth sets and with it the match. —
THE RESULTS
Men’s singles semifinal: Dominic Thiem (Austria
x5) bt Alexander Zverev (Germany x7) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6
(3), 7-6 (4). Women’s doubles final: Kristina Mladenovic/ Timea Babos (France/ Hungary
x2) bt Barbora Strycova/ Hsieh Su-wei (Czech Republic/ Chinese Taipei
x1) 6-2, 6-1.