Thiem keeps hopes alive with belated ATP Finals win

DOMINIC THIEM claimed his first win of the week at the ATP Finals as he beat Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-1 6-4 to stay mathematically alive at the O2 Arena yesterday.

The Austrian, beaten by Kevin Anderson and Roger Federer in his opening two round-robin matches, knew only a straight sets victory would suffice and he delivered with a positive display.

He dominated throughout with Nishikori, who can no longer reach the semis, guilty of 41 unforced errors. After describing his error-strewn loss to Federer as “unacceptable”, Thiem produced a performance much more in keeping with a player who reached the French Open final this year and who has now won 54 matches during the season.

“I didn’t come into the match with too much pressure,” said Thiem in his on-court interview. “I just wanted to show to myself and all the spectators the real Dominic Thiem.”

Thiem won the opening three games, but had to save three break points at 3-1 as Nishikori briefly raised his tempo.

The Austrian world No 8 captured another break to take the first set. A superb backhand winner then gave him the one break of serve he needed at 3-3 in the second set.

Meanwhile, Men’s Tour chief Chris Kermode rejected suggestions of an ATP “land grab” when launching a new $15million team competition to start in Australia in January 2020. The ATP Cup seen as a threat to the ITF’s revamped Davis Cup will take place over 10 days in three Australian cities.

“We all know it’s complicated, we have 64 (ATP) events and we have the slams, it’s a lot of tennis. It’s not an ATP land grab or anything like,” Kermode said. “This is us promoting big events in which we can attract new audiences.” |