Thiem dethrones Zverev to set up London final against Tsitsipas
LONDON: Dominic Thiem beat defending champion Alexander Zverev on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to join Roger Federer’s conqueror Stefanos Tsitsipas
a couple of break points in the following game and served out to take the match, winning with a forehand down the line.
“This is a big, big dream coming true for me, it is one of the biggest and most prestigious tournaments of the whole year and I’m getting the chance to play
this year’s French Open, has been considered a clay-court specialist but joked after winning indoors in Vienna last month and now reach
Federer, ended the 38-year-old’s hopes of securing a seventh year-end title.
Federer was unrecognisable from the player who dominated Djokovic in his
serve and hitting a total of 26 unforced
the Serbian.
But Tsitsipas belied his years with a
saving 11 out of 12 break points during the match.
“I’m so proud of myself today, a great performance and once again the people were great,” he said.
“I really enjoyed myself on the court and sometimes in matches like these you and break point down.” Tsitsipas, ignoring loud support for
of asking, taking advantage of two missed overheads.
The Greek was forced to dig deep in
points and needed seven set points to close it out 6-3.
Federer was in deep trouble when Tsitsipas broke him to love in the third game of the second set but he finally made a break point count to level at 2- 2.
Undaunted,
Tsitsipas, dominating rallies from the back of the court, broke again straight away with a forehand crosscourt winner for a 3-2 lead.
At 5-4 down Federer knew he had to break Tsitsipas for only the second time in the match.
The Greek slipped to 15-40 down but Federer again could not take advantage, spraying a forehand out to give his opponent a match point and he won with a thundering ace.
“I’m frustrated I couldn’t play better, and when I did and fought my way back, I threw it away again,” said the Swiss.
“It was also parts of him. He did come up with the goods when he had to and he was better than me today.”
Germany’s Alexander Zverev returns against Austria’s Dominic Thiem during the men’s singles semi-final match on day seven of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London on Sunday.