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The ÖTV star is defeated by Russian Daniil Medvedev in the last game of the year in three sets.
Even in his second final at the prestigious ATP Finals in London, Dominic Thiem’s triumph did not work out. The winner of this year’s US Open missed his second major title on Sunday against a strong Daniil Medvedev. The Russian defeated Thiem after 2:42 hours with 4: 6.7: 6 (2), 6: 4. Thiem and himself had defeated world numbers 1 and 2, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, over the course of the tournament, Medvedev now also number 3.
Thiem takes 800 ATP meters and $ 861,000 gross from London. Like the previous year, he ended his season with a great performance in London, but with another defeat in the final. The expected first Masters victory of an Austrian had to be postponed. Thiem now has 17 tournament wins and 11 tour finals. The 2021 season is scheduled to begin with the ATP Cup in Australia, but there are still question marks due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Of course I am disappointed, but at the same time I am proud of the performances throughout the week,” Thiem said at the award ceremony. “Daniil really deserves it, a great match. Congratulations. You had a great month of November with the titles at Paris-Bercy and here. I hope we have many more matches ahead of us. It was a pleasure today, even if I lost,” he said the 27-year-old from Lower Austria to the Russian who was three years younger than him.
Thiem thanked his team with coach Nicolas Massu, physio Alex Stober and coach Herwig Straka, who “is even more important without fans.” “We had an amazing year, you took good care of me in all the ‘bubbles’.”
Davidenko as Russian inspiration
Medvedev, who was eliminated with three losses in his last debut last year, is now even the undefeated champion. Receive 1,500 points and $ 1.56 million for this. “What a match, it was one of my most beautiful victories,” said the happy Medvedev, who was still using his mobile phone to write messages on the players’ bench before the award ceremony. “I congratulate you Domi on all the things you have already accomplished. Your name is already in the tennis history books,” Medvedev scattered roses for the Austrian.
Medvedev was particularly pleased to have closed the Russian circle at the London headquarters. In 2009 Nikolaj Dawidenko won the first edition at the imposing O2 stadium, Medvedev won the last before moving to Turin. “Many thanks to Nikolai Davidenko, who was an inspiration to me and many other children,” Medvedev said.
The game was high-class from the beginning and was characterized by long background duels. Thiem already had to fend off two breakballs in the second game, but it was he who managed to take the opponent’s serve first. With 2: 2 the Russian was already leading 40: 0, but Thiem turned the first break that was decisive for the set. He was lucky with his first set, when Medvedev was clearly on the trigger, but a roller from Thiem’s net decided the set.
Thiem talks to himself
In the second set, Thiem initially missed a break ball at 2: 2 before Medvedev managed to serve in this highly competitive game. In the seventh game at 3: 3, Thiem had two unused break balls before having to defend against one for the first time at 3: 4. He then went to the tie-break with no further chance for setbacks. Thiem took a 2-0 lead in this, but Medvedev took off and scored seven points en suite to even the set after 1:50 hours.
In the third game of the third round, Thiem defended himself from three breakballs of the fourth in the world rankings at 0:40. Thiem, who also had too many flaws, got into trouble in the next service game and also looked tired and lost. “What should I play for points?” asked the one from Lower Austria. Mewedew then used his sixth break ball in this set to make it 3: 2 and immediately increased to 4: 2. Medvedev stayed cool, raised to 5-3 and used his first match point to triumph. He beat numbers 1 to 3 in this tournament.
