He got out of the German trap, but here he is facing the Serbian summit. At the end of a meeting hung against the fiery Alexander Zverev (3-6, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6), the Austrian Dominic Thiem, 5e world player qualified for his first final at the Australian Open on Friday (January 31st). Sunday, seven-time winner in Melbourne, Novak Djokovic, will stand in his way.
"I played two finals at Roland Garros against Rafa (Nadal), who is the king there and who won his eleventh and twelfth titles against me, recalled Thiem after the match. And, here, I will again play the final against the king, Novak, who has already won seven times! " A reference to the two tennis “monsters”, one on clay, the other hard, which are claiming the titles of the Grand Slam (with Roger Federer). For this fight in the final, "We will have to be patient … but I can't wait to be there", launched Thiem.
While his quarter-final victory over Rafael Nadal had reached intensity levels, the encounter against "Sasha" Zverev was cut short, with the two players going back to back. "It was an incredible match, it was almost impossible to break it because it was so solid on its service", greeted the Austrian, winner in 3:42.
Strong in decisive games
Despite some very spectacular exchanges, the match was not always of a very high standard, but "Dominator" held up better in key moments, notably saving nine of the fourteen break points he conceded. And as against Nadal, the Austrian was intractable in the two decisive games played.
"Tie-breaks are always 50/50. Besides, the first one I played in the tournament, against Alex Bolt in 2e turn, I lost it, pointed out Thiem. There, against Zverev, I quickly detached each time, so it was a little easier. "
Now makes the final, his third in the Grand Slam tournament. And the pitfall is great, Novak Djokovic being able to take Nadal back as the world number one if he wins. After his two "Big 3" stooges, the Serb is also poised to become the third player in history to win eight times in the same Major – Nadal with twelve Roland Garros and Roger Federer with eight Wimbledon.
