Dominic Thiem ended his profession on the ATP 500 occasion in Vienna in October. The 31-year-old couldn’t take care of ongoing wrist points anymore, struggling to settle into the top-100 and terminating his tennis journey.
The Austrian claimed 348 ATP wins and conquered a Main and a Masters 1000 trophy. His favourite triumph got here in opposition to Novak Djokovic on the 2019 ATP Finals. Thiem overpowered Djokovic 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 within the round-robin stage, remaining excellent in London.
Dominic praised his efficiency in opposition to one of many biggest gamers of all time, describing it as one of the best match he ever performed. The Austrian earned 16 victories over Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. He stands because the second participant to have crushed all of them 5 occasions, becoming a member of Andy Murray on the unique checklist.
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 12, 2019 Thiem edges Djokovic on a memorable London night time
Three years after their first ATP Finals duel, Dominic and Novak battled within the Bjorn Borg group in 2019. The Austrian prevailed 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 in two hours and 47 minutes, incomes his second victory in London and shifting into his first ATP Finals semi-final.
It was Thiem’s fourth victory over Djokovic within the earlier 5 duels. He bounced again after the opener and saved his composure within the decider to earn a notable victory. Dominic clinched two factors greater than Novak and prevailed within the pivotal moments.
Novak Djokovic & Dominic Thiem, ATP Finals 2019© Stream screenshot
Thiem performed a bit higher behind the second serve. He denied six of 9 break factors and generated solely 4 break possibilities. Nonetheless, Dominic transformed all of them and remained in contact with the a number of champion.
The Austrian maintained his focus within the deciding tie break, trailing 4-1 earlier than taking six of the ultimate seven factors. Thiem unleashed fury from his forehand and landed 50 winners and 44 unforced errors. Djokovic produced environment friendly however extra lowered numbers, ending on a 27-21 ratio.
Nothing separated them in shortest, mid-range and most prolonged exchanges, with the 2 rivals conserving the gang on the sting of their seats.
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 12, 2019 Novak wins a good opener
They battled for 64 minutes on the opener, though Novak was a greater participant. The Serb dropped ten factors behind the preliminary shot and confronted just one break level. The Austrian transformed it to drag the break again, erasing the deficit and shedding serve as soon as from 4 possibilities provided to his opponent.
Djokovic tamed his strokes properly, touchdown 13 winners and solely two unforced errors and overpowering his rival within the closing phases. They served effectively within the opening three video games, with Novak shifting 2-1 in entrance with a maintain at love after a service winner.
Dominic Thiem, ATP Finals 2019© Stream screenshot
The Serb prolonged the fourth recreation and created a break likelihood. He welcomed the Austrian’s forehand drive-volley mistake for a break and a 3-1 benefit. Dominic stepped in on the return within the subsequent one and generated three break factors with a forehand drive-volley winner.
Thiem painted a backhand down the road winner on the primary. He pulled the break again and returned to the optimistic aspect. The Austrian performed in opposition to three break factors within the sixth recreation, denying them with three winners and leveling the rating at 3-3.
Novak Djokovic, ATP Finals 2019© Stream screenshot
Novak secured the ninth recreation with a service winner and reached a deuce on the return within the subsequent one. Dominic stayed targeted and wrapped up the sport with a serve & volley combo, extending the battle. Thiem fired a service winner within the twelfth recreation and launched a tie break.
The Austrian hit a double fault at 2-3 and netted a forehand within the eighth level to seek out himself 5-3 behind. He pulled the mini-break again with a forehand winner and cracked one other for 5-5 and extra drama. The Austrian despatched a routine forehand lengthy within the eleventh level, dealing with a set level.
The Serb landed a service winner, sealing the deal in 64 minutes and gaining a lift.
Dominic Thiem, ATP Finals 2019© Stream screenshot
Dominic responds in set quantity two
The Austrian performed dependable tennis within the second set, touchdown 15 winners and offering 5 holds. Novak felt the strain and cracked underneath it. Dominic landed an ace within the first recreation and made a push on the return within the subsequent one. Thiem prolonged the sport with a backhand down the road winner.
The youthful participant generated a break likelihood with a backhand down the road winner. He welcomed the rival’s volley error for a break and a 2-0 benefit. Dominic closed the third recreation with a forehand crosscourt winner, cementing the break and shifting 3-0 in entrance.
Thiem survived deuces within the fifth recreation and closed it with a service winner to open a 4-1 hole. He fired one other in recreation seven for 5-2 and served for the set in recreation 9. Dominic held at 15 following Novak’s mistake, wrapping up the set 6-3 and introducing a decider after an hour and 44 minutes.
Novak Djokovic, ATP Finals 2019© Stream screenshot
Thiem prevails after a thriller
The Austrian made a push on the return initially of the decider. He cracked a forehand down the road winner and secured a break at 15. Dominic saved three break factors within the second recreation and drew Novak’s mistake for a maintain and a 2-0 lead.
Thiem landed a service winner within the fourth recreation for 3-1 earlier than dealing with points two video games later. Dominic sprayed a forehand error and provided Novak two break factors. The Serb seized the primary with a forehand winner, erasing the deficit and locking the end result at 3-3.
They produced holds at love in video games seven and eight for extra drama. The Serb repeated that within the ninth recreation and reached a deuce on the return within the subsequent one, shifting two factors away from the end line. Thiem stayed targeted and clinched two factors for a maintain and 5-5.
Dominic Thiem, ATP Finals 2019© Stream screenshot
Dominic stepped in on the return within the eleventh recreation and broke at love after Novak’s unfastened forehand. He served for the win at 6-5 and sprayed a backhand error to supply Djokovic two break factors. The Serb seized the primary, introducing a tie break and increasing his possibilities.
Novak cast a 3-0 benefit with two mini-breaks and landed a service winner for 4-1. Thiem painted two direct factors on his serve for 3-4 and drew Djokovic’s mistake within the eighth level for a mini-break at 4-4. Elevating his stage, Dominic fired a forehand winner for one more mini-break and a 5-4 lead.
The Austrian hit a smash winner within the tenth level and generated two match factors. He missed a backhand on the primary, conserving the legend in rivalry. Thiem attacked on the return on the second match level, inflicting Djokovic’s forehand error and shifting excessive.
