Thiem to face Zverev for Madrid Masters title

DOMINIC THIEM followed up his sensational victory over world No. 1 Rafael Nadal by easing past Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-2 yesterday to reach the Madrid Masters final.

The fifth-seeded Austrian needed 85 minutes to dispose of his South African opponent, seeded sixth.

Thiem will face German second seed Alexander Zverev, who swept past Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-1, in today’s championship match.

“I will try everything on Sunday. A Masters 1000 title would mean a lot to me because it’s obviously really tough to win one,” said Thiem.

“To be honest, I thought also myself that I was pretty far away before this week started. Now I’m in the finals again, which is amazing for me.”

Thiem is playing in just his third tournament since a right ankle fracture suffered at Indian Wells while US Open runner-up Anderson was competing in his first semifinal at Masters level, ending a run of 10 prior losses in quarter-finals at this level.

“It took me a while until I was moving my best again, until I was playing my best again. I think the level of my game increased especially in this week.”

Zverev, 21, took less than an hour to see off 19-year-old Shapovalov, the youngest player to reach the semi-finals in Madrid.

The beanpole German will be seeking a third Masters title after wins in Rome and Montreal in 2017.