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Dominic Thiem he’s in the US Open quarterfinals for the second time. There, the Austrian will face Alex de Miñaur of Australia on Wednesday.
by Jens Huiber
Last edit: September 08, 2020, 12:43 p.m.
© Getty Images
Andy Roddick only rarely did a trick against Roger Federer, but at least he got a very close look at what makes the Swiss so special. Everybody watches the serve and the forehand, so Roddick, a great, if underrated quality of Federer, is on the defensive. If Félix Auger-Aliassime one day remembers his first meeting with Dominic Thiem in the round of 16 of the 2020 US Open, he could come to the same conclusion.
Because the way the Austrian adjusted to the tennis power of his rival with the continuation of the match at the Arthur Ashe stadium always had Federerian qualities. Especially in the transition between defense and offense, which of course the two best players of our time, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, have mastered perfectly.
Thiem like 2018 in the quarterfinals
It is now common knowledge that these three legends are no longer at the start of the 2020 US Open, for different reasons. Thiem is number three in the ATP world rankings according to the favorite on paper, in the quarterfinals against Alex de Miñaur for sure. Thiem played twice against the Australian and beat them just as often, although it wasn’t always easy both times. For De Miñaur it will be the first appearance in the round of 16 of the US Open, Thiem already had the pleasure of 2018 against Nadal when he lost in the tie-break of the fifth set.
His routine would be his biggest advantage, Dominic Thiem had emphasized before the game against “FAA.” That later also became a reality in the game. “A little in the tie-break in the first sentence, because I know better than him how important that first sentence is in a Grand Slam match where the best of five is,” Thiem said at his press conference. “I played the tie-break very, very well, I didn’t make unforced errors. And I also knew that you usually have a very slight break after a set like this. Then I broke it to make it 2-0 and finally played my way free. They are little things that you learn over the years, and that you can’t have in your 20s. “
Satisfaction with the reverse
Thiem worked on stability on his backhand during Corona’s break, which his team identified as a weak point in the Australian Open final against Novak Djokovic. “Today I noticed it for the first time with the backhand, where I was really solid with the backhand, especially in the second and third sets, also in the return of the second serve, when he pushed me back. I hardly have more mistakes. The goal was to train the backhand to be like the forehand. I don’t have to keep winning with it, but play it so that the opponent can’t do anything. “
And at some point he could take the initiative himself. What will also be important against Miñaur. But only at the right time, because if you push the nimble Australian too early and catch up on the net, you will usually get punished for it.
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