Nadal beats Dominic Thiem in the Adelaide Exhibition
Rafael Nadal won the show tournament in Adelaide against Dominic Thiem 7: 5, 6: 4.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jan 29, 2021, 11:29 am
In an entertaining game, a lot was initially about the service, long, spectacular rallies were rather in short supply. The level: nevertheless okay, also because Dominic Thiem in particular was unusually often looking for the internet. Quite successfully.
He also got the first break balls of the game, but Nadal parried and used the chance to 6: 5 - and then served.
Round two was more relaxed, even Nadal laughed every now and then, letting his sensitivity flash on the net.
Thiem lost some tension in the end, Nadal ended the duel with loose volleys.
"We can manage you to still look so young," Nadal was asked in the on-court interview. "You don't know my body," he replied. It doesn't get any easier when you get older - he's just happy to be still on tour.
Thiem was once again approached about his first major win in New York, "That took a lot of pressure. I lost three finals before, two of them against this guy," he alluded to the defeats in the final in 2018 and 2019 in Roland Garros .
Here you can read the match in the tennisnet live ticker.
Next stop for Nadal and Thiem: the ATP Cup
Before the game between Nadal and Thiem, Novak Djokovic had won against Jannik Sinner in the day session - in combination with Filip Krajinovic, who was allowed to play the first set. Then Serena Williams won against Naomi Osaka.
As the last game, the two top players of the WTA Tour duel: The world number one Ashleigh Barty now meets the world number two Simona Halep.
For Thiem, Nadal and Co. it will continue from February 2 in Melbourne, at the ATP Cup .
The Australian Open starts on February 8th.