Ny slice of history

DOMINIC THIEM and Alexander Zverev will bid to grab their chance to step out of the shadows of their illustrious contemporaries when they clash in the US Open final in New York today.

For the first time since Andy Murray’s Wimbledon final win over Milos Raonic in 2016, a combination of health concerns and errant volleys has contrived to serve up a grand-slam final shorn of the sport’s big three.

For Thiem, it represents a fourth opportunity to scale the final hurdle, having previously come up short against Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

And for 23-year-old Zverev, the youngest men’s grandslam finalist for a decade, it is a chance to make good on expectations and anoint himself the leader of his sport’s new age.

Austrian Thiem (right) insisted he will not feel any additional pressure at starting as the heavy favourite, in stark contrast to his previous finals.

Thiem said: “I won’t change my mindset at all – I know what Sascha is capable of.

“From the moment that Novak was out, it was clear that there is going to be a new grand-slam champion.

“Now it’s just Sascha remaining. He is a hell of a player, one of the greatest in the last few years, and has won all the titles besides a major.”

While Thiem has been the model of consistency, Zverev has allied desperate serving dips with piles of unforced errors, yet on his day is more than capable of victory.

The German said: “Sunday is going to be extremely difficult but I’m looking forward to it.

“Obviously, I’m happy to be in the final, but there’s still one more step to go.”