Dominic Thiem outlasts Alexander Zverev 2-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 7-66 in the final in New York on Sunday after conquering a huge battle and win his first slam. Dominic managed to recover from a 2-sets-down deficit and Zverev had the opportunity to serve out the match when leading 5-3 in the decider. To add some more drama, Thiem got injured when he was trying to serve out the match when leading 6-5 and he also failed to do that.
The final tiebreak was a sheer drama. After getting a 2-0 lead against a limping Dominic Thiem, Sascha looked to be destined to win this unique slam. However, the German ceded to his nerves and he started to commit unforced errors and (of course) double faults.
Thiem conquered 2 consecutive championship points in the tiebreak (6-4), but he curiously wasted both of them with 2 forehands (the first was an easy one in the middle of the court).
When the scoreline was 6-6 in the breaker it all became a Russian roulette and it was the Austrian ace to win after Sascha committed yet another unforced error.
The final ceremony was very emotional. Sascha looked demolished thinking about his parents that could not be with him as both infected by the Coronavirus. In addition, he was well aware he wasted an incredible opportunity to conquer his first slam. As mentioned, Sascha was leading by 2 sets, he failed to serve out for the championship and he was playing against an injured player.
On Dominic’s side, this was finally his 1st slam title after he was extremely close to winning the Australian Open against an out-of-sorts (but always ready to bounce back) Novak Djokovic earlier in the year. Dominic also lost 2 French Open finals (2018, 2019) against the great Rafael Nadal.
Live score progression and stats
Alexander in this set was much more effective than the Austrian and eventually he won 6-2 after breaking Dominic in the 3rd (2-1) and in the 7th (5-2) game.
The German was exemplary in converting all his break points in the 3rd (1-1 15-40 and 30-40) and the 7th game (4-2 40-A). On the other side, the German didn’t concede a single break point during this set.
They contested 46 points. Zverev was the winner of the set after clinching 12 points more than Dominic (29-17). The German was extremely solid on serve to concede just 3 points (16-3). Regarding the other side of the net, the Austrian conceded 13 points on serve (14-13).
Alexander won the set after he broke Dominic in the 3rd (2-1) and in the 5th (4-1) game. Thiem tried to stage a comeback breaking in the 8th (5-3) game. Notwithstanding, the German kept the situation under control to conquer the set 6-4.
One of the most important stints of the set was when the German won 5 consecutive games in the 2nd set to bring the game count from 0-1 to 5-1.
The German was unerring in converting all his break points in the 1st (0-0 30-40), the 3rd (1-1 30-40), the 5th (3-1 15-40, 30-40 and 40-A) and the 7th game (5-1 30-40, 40-A and 40-A). On the other side, the Austrian was clinical in converting the only break point that he conquered in the 8th game (2-5 40-A).
They contested 73 points. Alexander conquered the set after winning 5 points more than Dominic (39-34). The German surrendered 12 points on serve (21-12). on the other side of the net, Thiem conceded 18 points on serve (22-18).
Thiem won the set after recovering from 1 break down. In fact, after dropping his serve in the 3rd (1-2) game, Dominic broke back in the 4th (2-2) and in the 10th () game to win the set 6-4.
Thiem converted 40% of his break points (2/5). He had 5 break points opportunities in the 4th (1-2 30-40, 40-A, 40-A and 40-A) and the 10th game (5-4 15-40). Furthermore, on the other side, Alexander converted 33% of his break points (1/3). He had his opportunities in the 3rd game (1-1 15-40, 30-40 and 40-A).
They played 67 points. The Austrian conquered the set after winning 5 points more than Zverev (36-31). The Austrian dropped 13 points on serve (21-13). on the other side of the court, Alexander conceded 15 points on serve (18-15).
Both players managed to hold their serve for the entire set. The only difference was just 1 break that the Austrian grabbed in the 8th game (5-3) prior to finally winning the set (6-3).
The Austrian converted 33% of his break points (1/3). He had 3 break points opportunities in the 6th (3-2 15-40 and 30-40) and the 8th game (4-3 40-A). On the other side, the Austrian didn’t concede a single break point during this set.
They played 51 points. Thiem won 13 more points than the German (32-19). Thiem was extremely solid on serve to drop just 2 points (20-2). on the other side of the net, the German conceded 12 points on serve (17-12).
The 5th set random the deciding set was a sheer thriller.
Thiem had a running start at the beginning of the set after breaking Zverev in the 1st game (1-0). However, there was more to do for Thiem to win the set because the German found the way to break back in the 2nd (1-1), in the 8th (5-3) and in the 12th (6-6) game. The Austrian maintained his focus before winning the set at the breaker at 6.
The Austrian failed to serve out the set when leading 6-5 to be broken at 30.
Tiebreak
Thiem won 3 minibreaks in the 8th (5-3), 13th (7-6) and 14th (8-6) point. On the other side, Zverev won 3 minibreaks in the 2nd (2-0), 6th (3-3) and 11th (5-6) point.
This was the tiebreak sequence: 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 3-3, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4, 6-4, 6-5, 6-6, 7-6, 8-c
Thiem converted 100% of his break points (3/3). He had 3 break points opportunities in the 8th (3-5 15-40 and 30-40) and the 11th game (5-5 30-40). Furthermore, on the other side, Alexander converted 75% of his break points (3/4). He had his opportunities in the 2nd (0-1 30-40), the 8th (4-3 30-40) and the 12th game (5-6 15-40 and 30-40).
The Austrian pocketed $ 1,500,000 after getting to this final. He has earned $ 3,000,000 prize money after winning this tournament.
Stats: aces, double faults and breaks
6-3 7-66
After this contest, the head to head between Thiem and Zverev is 8-2 for Dominic.
This was the 22nd career title for Dominic. (see list of the title). Alexander remains with 11 titles. (see list of the title)
Highlights Dominic Thiem vs. Alexander Zverev U.S. Open – New York
Thiem’s Interview
Tennis Scores at the Us Open
- Dominic ThiemThiem – Alexander ZverevZverev (2-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 7-66) – Stats and score progression
