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Monday, September 14, 2020
Very bitter about Alexander Zverev – German number one in tennis looks like the sure winner of the US Open final for a long time, then Dominic Thiem turns the game around. After 0-2 in sets, the Austrian won his first Grand Slam title in dramatic and tight fashion.
Alexander Zverev narrowly missed the first Grand Slam title of his career after a harrowing five-set match. The 23-year-old professional tennis player lost Sunday night in New York in the final against Austrian Dominic Thiem in five rounds despite a 2-0 lead in the set and missed a great opportunity to win the first German title in one of the four biggest tournaments since Boris Becker in 1996. the Australian Open.
Zverev had to admit defeat 6: 2, 6: 4, 4: 6, 3: 6, 6: 7 (6: 8) after 4:01 hours. For Thiem, 27, it was the fourth attempt at a first Grand Slam victory. He is the first player in 16 years to win the title in a final after a 2-0 deficit in the set. In the tie-break, the cramping Austrian seized his third match point.
“It was a tough fight. I wish you had made a few more mistakes to be able to hold this trophy up high,” Zverev said in Thiem’s direction, soon after bursting into tears. “I’m sure,” he added, “that my parents at home are proud of me, even if I lost. One day I’ll bring the trophy with me.”
Thiem is the first Grand Slam champion since Swiss Stan Wawrinka at the 2016 US Open, who is not named Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer. Nadal and Federer did not start at Flushing Meadows this year, Djokovic was disqualified in the round of 16 because he had shot a frustrated linesman with the ball. This cleared the way for a winner outside of the Big Three. Zverev missed the big opportunity, while Thiem finally fulfilled his big dream. In the tenth duel between the two, it was Zverev’s eighth loss.
FC Bayern wishes him all the best
At the end of the several-hour roller coaster, Thiem fell backward onto the blue track and covered his face with his hands. Zverev went to the other side of the net, congratulated his opponent fairly and hugged him, not entirely compatible with Corona. “I have seen thousands of tennis matches, I have never seen anything like this,” said Becker as a Eurosport expert: “No one deserves to lose this match. Thiem is the Houdini of tennis.”
Before the long-awaited final, Becker had been optimistic that Zverev would seize the hour in the first Grand Slam final of his career, and it seemed so for a long time. “The Australian Open semi-finals were very important to him and to his confidence. There is no reason why he should not win the match today,” said the television expert. Numerous former elite athletes such as Sven Hannawald, Fabian Hambüchen or Anni Friesinger-Postma had wished Zverev luck in pre-match video messages, and FC Bayern also wished the declared fan of the triple winner the best.
Zverev got off to a brilliant start at Arthur Ashe Stadium, which is mostly deserted due to strict hygiene conditions. Unlike the previous two matches, when the German number one started waiting and hesitant and always lost the first set, Zverev was there from the beginning and surprised his friend Thiem with aggressive and courageous tennis. By 2: 1, Zverev took the service of the visibly nervous Austrian, by 5: 2 he managed another break. After just half an hour, Zverev got the first set 6-2.
The Hamburg native took the start of the dream in stride. He looked a little incredulous at his four-year-old opponent, whom he had previously called “my best friend on tour.” Zverev remained very focused and was not bothered by the fact that Thiem was obviously not moving as well as usual.
Furious ending
At the start of the second leg he managed a quick break to make it 2-1, Zverev decided what happened at will. The number one German walked away to 5: 1, but then obviously got nervous. The world number seven missed four set balls and also lost his serve for the first time in this match. Thiem now felt his chance, also because Zverev made some small mistakes. But Zverev kept his nerves and got the second step with the fifth set.
But just one sentence from the big dream, Zverev was getting more and more nervous. Aggression and evidence were lost, the error rate increased. Since Thiem also remained well below his level, an ending developed at a moderate level at times. Thiem benefited and got the third set. Zverev didn’t seem surprised at first and kept the fourth round open. Both players have now improved again and have finally thrown an exciting exchange of blows.
Thiem managed to equalize the set and also took the lead with a break in the deciding set. But Zverev showed, as so many times, a great fighter’s heart and immediately removed Thiem from service. The German number one pushed forward hard and took the lead again. He made the break to 5: 3, but immediately conceded the replay to 5: 4. Finally, it was an upper-class match that found a worthy end in the tie-break, with the furious ending for Thiem, who was riddled with cramps. .
