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Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev - the beginning of a Grand Slam success story?

Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev each achieved their best Grand Slam result at the US Open 2020. The tournament in New York could only have been the beginning of a Grand Slam success story for the two.

by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Sep 16, 2020, 09:07 am

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Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev in New York
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Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev should also cause a sensation in the future

Naturally, after such a gripping Grand Slam final like the one between Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev, countless superlatives are sought to describe the match. Immediately after the 4:02 hour battle, the brother of the newly crowned US Open Champion, Moritz Thiem, perhaps best summed it up: "Insane. Wonderful. Insane. Inhuman."

In the Austrian media one could read of a "lifelong dream" which has now been fulfilled, in German newspapers Zverev's defeat was described as "dramatic" and "memorable" . The fact that the finals did not offer the highest level for long stretches was hardly mentioned in the German-speaking media in particular.

The distance becomes smaller

This endgame was too exciting, too nerve-wracking, too remarkable for this fact to be given weight in the reporting. But it is precisely this aspect that should give the two protagonists courage for the future: Thiem won his first major title despite an anything but perfect performance especially in the final and Zverev had already shown better tennis than in these - for example at the ATP Finals 2018 two weeks from New York.

Even if Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and probably Roger Federer can still be expected, not only the US Open, which was held under special circumstances, showed that the gap between the Big Three and the young savages is getting smaller and smaller. Thiem in particular worked continuously towards the three possibly best players of all time, this is underpinned by a look at his first three Grand Slam finals.

The self-confidence is right

Although Zverev owed this proof, especially in the past season, the German should also be expected at the upcoming major events. With his mighty first serve, the powerful backhand and a similarly aggressive style of play as in the first two sets against Thiem, the 23-year-old has all the weapons he needs to be successful at the highest tournament level.

Zverev is also aware of this. "I will be Grand Slam champion at some point," said the world number seven immediately after the final . The self-confidence, this also seems to be right with Thiem and Zverev - and is another and possibly even decisive reason why the US Open final 2020 could only have been the beginning of a Grand Slam success story for the two friends.

by Nikolaus Fink

Wednesday
Sep 16, 2020, 11:00 am
last edit: Sep 16, 2020, 09:07 am