[ad_1]
In the dramatic match, Thiem was unable to use four match points in the second set, but he happily stood alone and even converted a 0: 4 into a 6: 4 in the tie-break of the decisive third set and ultimately won.
In his twelfth meeting with the Serbian, the 27-year-old from Lower Austria came off the field as the winner for the fifth time in total, but also for the fifth time in the last seven games. The Austrian US Open champion is the only player alongside Andy Murray (GBR) to have won at least five victories against three living tennis legends Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic. Against Federer it is 5: 2, against Nadal 6: 9, against the Serbs now 5: 7.
“A mental fight”
“It was a mental battle,” said the Austrian in his first statement on the pitch. “Playing against these legends is always something special, as is playing for the final. It was very tight. The game was on a razor’s edge, the best in the world play here. I’m happy to have progressed and to try to be ready for tomorrow. “
With the success of the semifinal, Thiem also has 800 ATP counters and 861,000 US dollars (726,000 euros) in gross prize money. The final is about 500 more points and an additional $ 550,000 for Thiem. However, Thiem will not achieve further improvement in the ATP rankings even with possible final success.
Sober start
As with the defeat in the last group match on Thursday against Russian Andrej Rublew, Thiem came off the starting grid with some caution. The Austrian from Lower Austria, who had previously beaten Nadal and Stefanos Tsistipas in the “London 2020” group, needed a few minutes to raise his operating temperature. Thiem reacted to most of the rallies instead of acting.
Thiem came closest to fine-tuning in the sixth game, when he was able to turn a 0:30 deficit, also with the help of his good first serve, into a game win. However, Thiem could not turn a 30-0 lead on Djokovic’s serve into a break in the next game.
Thiem gets more precise
Without a spectator, the game was remarkably quiet in the first set. Both players acted in a concentrated manner, avoiding antics or cheering gestures of any kind. At times the Austrian struggled with missed shots after long, well-played plays, but the first set seemed headed for a tiebreaker.
But Thiem’s forehand balls became more precise and powerful and at 5: 5 he was able to use his first break ball when Djokovic failed to bring a return over the net. Thiem then served calmly and with an ace secured the first set in the 51st minute.
World class gamer spying on each other
Thiem’s next break opportunity was 2: 2 in the second set, but this time the Austrian hit the net and called to himself, clearly audible through the space microphones in the empty O2 arena, “How stupid.” . Djokovic did not allow himself to be asked twice and secured his point for a 3-2 lead.
The Serb, who scored few spectacular points, had changed his tactic a bit in the second round and was now trying to keep Thiem busier with precise shots on the lines. But the world number three outdid his game, proving once again that he has become a complete world-class player in recent months.
Four unused match balls
Until he suddenly found himself facing two set balls from Djokovic at 5: 6 15:40 after a bit of risk in the game. With good serves, his backhand like a whip and plenty of self-confidence, Thiem escaped the impending loss of a set and made it to the tiebreaker.
There Djokovic turned a 0: 2 into a 4: 2 and a true tiebreaker thriller unfolded. However, Thiem, who also double-faulted, was unable to use four match balls, two of them on his own serve, so the second set went to the Serbian world number one after two hours with 12:10 in. the tiebreaker. The Austrian lost the fruits of his success after a well-played second set.
Trend change to 0: 4 in the tie-break
However, the four balls conceded did not gnaw much at the Austrian, who got the first game in the decisive third set with his own serve to zero. However, Djokovic Thiem was in no way inferior and always tied sovereignly. In general, the Serb seemed unusually calm and collected.
Both players performed their services more or less safely. After 2:45 hours, the second tie-break of this fight at the highest tennis level should bring the decision. The Austrian started that with a double fault and quickly fell 0: 4 behind. But once again Thiem showed what maturing process he was going through last, never flustered, believed in his strengths and scored six points in a row. Ultimately, he used his sixth match point to advance to the final.
For the final of the tournament formerly known as “Masters”, the world number three from Austria promises “Thiem tennis” in its purest form again: “I will try everything to win the title. We will definitely have a main winner. It will be a tough and special match and we will try to put on a great show. “
ATP World Tour Finals in London
(Great Britain, $ 5.7 million, indoor court, hard court)
