ATP Finals: Thiem can play freely

Thiem is on Thursday (not before 3pm) against Rublew for another 200 ATP points and $ 153,000 (around 129,000 euros) in prize money, but he can still take it easy and play freely. In his fifth ATP final, the winner of this year’s US Open is in the semifinals for the second time after the first two group matches.

Against Rublew, Thiem still has a calculation: more recently, in the quarter-finals in Vienna, the world number three, also due to a blister on the sole of the foot, had to give the Russian a clear 6: 7 2: 6 In the head-to-head with Rublew, it’s now 2: 2.

The victory against Nadal motivates

“A great match that I will remember for a long time,” Thiem said after his sixth win in his 15th game with Nadal, which is well worth watching. In this way, last year’s finalist at the O2 stadium in London is once again the contender for the absolute title. “That was perhaps my best game since the tour restarted. That makes me super happy, ”said the world number three.

Keeping the ‘white vest’ on Thursday would also have another advantage for Thiem: he has the slim chance of overtaking Nadal in the rankings and becoming world number two for the first time: Nadal would have to lose to Tsitsipas on Thursday and be eliminated, Thiem at 5-0 wins to become undefeated champion in London. In this regard, Thursday’s game against Rublew is perhaps worth a lot more than the points and prize money.

In any case, Thiem was focused and ready for new great feats. Fortified by the self-confidence that after the victories against Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, he now also defeated Rafael Nadal in the London showdown, Thiem apparently has every chance to take the last step this time after the final of 2019.

ATP World Tour Finals in London

(Great Britain, $ 5.7 million, indoor court, hard court)