Tsitsipas vs Thiem in ATP Finals
LONDON—The first time Dominic Thiem played at the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Finals, he was handed an unknown Greek teenager as a hitting partner in training.
Three years later, Thiem is facing that same player in the final of the season-ending tournament.
Thiem beat defending champion Alexander Zverev in the semifinals on Saturday after Stefanos Tsitsipas ousted six-time winner Roger Federer, setting up a title match between two players who first met each other at the O2 Arena under very different circumstances.
”I just saw a picture before that I practiced with him the first time I played here 2016,” Thiem said after beating Zverev 7-5, 6-3. ”He was a hitting partner here. It’s an amazing story for both of us .... We didn’t think that only three years later we were going to face each other in the final.”
The now 21-year-old Tsitsipas had the most eye-catching win on Saturday, saving 11 of 12 break points to beat Federer 6-3, 6-4. He also took advantage of an error-filled performance from Federer, who continually put his opponent under pressure only to come up short when it mattered.
“I’m proud of myself, how hard I fought today, how concentrated I stayed in the breakpoints,” said Tsitsipas, who reached the biggest final of his career. “Didn’t crack under pressure. I was very composed and very mature in my decisions.”
In the evening match, Zverev double-faulted on set point to hand Thiem a 1-0 lead, and was then broken for the second time to make it 4-2 in the second set.
Thiem saved two break points in the next game to hold for 5-2, and then served out the match on his first attempt, clinching the victory with a forehand winner on match point.
The final pairing also ensures that the tournament will have a first-time champion for the fourth year in a row.