Australian Open: semi-finals! Dominic Thiem beats Rafael Nadal
Dominic Thiem is in the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the first time. The Austrian defeated the world's first Rafael Nadal with 7: 6 (3), 7: 6 (4), 4: 6 and 7: 6 (6). Thiem will play Alexander Zverev on Friday.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jan 29, 2020, 02:06 pm
Here is the live ticker for reading.
Nadal was able to set the first accent in the match, getting Thiem's serve to 5: 3. As in the final phase against Nick Kyrgios, the 19-time major champion was unable to reserve, Thiem made it into the tie-break. Here too, Nadal took the lead, but after 68 minutes it was the Austrian who got the lead.
Nadal takes set three
The turn in the match happened almost silently: Nadal continued to play at a high level, Thiem eased a little bit. The rallies were shorter, Nadal made the first break again. But this time to 6: 4, there was no way back for Dominic Thiem.
At the beginning of the fourth set, Nadal awarded three breakballs, then Thiem struck 2-1. For the first time, the light outsider was in front in one round with a break. And defended this until 5: 4. Then of all places Dominic Thiem did the worst game in the entire match, nailed three balls into the game, and allowed himself and above all his opponent to make a double mistake. The tie-break started with five mini-breaks in a row, Thiem led 4-2 at the break. Thiem awarded his first match ball at 6: 4 in a promising position, Nadal fended off the second with courage and good eyes. The third was sitting after 4:07 hours of play.
Thiem now against Zverev
He would have wanted a little too much in the back, said Thiem in an interview with Jim Courier after the match. He felt good now, but at that moment he was also full of adrenaline.
German number one Alexander Zverev is now waiting in the semi-finals on Friday. Born in Hamburg, he defeated Stan Wawrinka in four sets in the first quarter-finals of the day and entered the final round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. It will be the first time for Thiem that he will be the older player in a major semi-final, added Thiem on Wednesday.
Here is the single tableau in Melbourne
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