US Open: Round of 16 - Dominic Thiem beats Marin Cilic
Dominic Thiem is in the second round of the US Open 2020. The second seeded Austrian beat Marin Cilic 6: 2, 6: 2, 3: 6 and 6: 3. On Monday Thiem will now play against Félix Auger-Aliassime from Canada.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Sep 06, 2020, 05:49 am
Here you can read the match in the live ticker!
The last night session that Dominic Thiem played in Arthur Ashe Stadium before this Saturday is probably still fondly remembered by all tennis fans: It was 2018, Thiem matched Rafael Nadal up to a tie-break of the fifth set, the he lost very close. There wasn't so much drama to watch on Saturday evening New York time this time: Austria's number one overran the 2014 US Open champion, Marin Cilic, in the first two sets, and finally won 6: 2, 6: 2, 3 : 6 and 6: 3.
Two days after his 27th birthday, Thiem presented himself immensely powerful from the baseline, winning round two in just 31 minutes without even being connected to the network once. Cilic, on the other hand, often followed his balls - anyone who knows the Croatian knows that this happens more out of desperation than out of conviction.
In the round of 16 against Félix Auger-Aliassime
Marin Cilic kept up better in the third round, and was able to get his opponent's serve for the first time with his third chance in the sixth game. Thiem had two break chances at the score of 3: 5, both missed with return errors. Cilic put up his forehand twice, and after 1:49 hours of play, he shortened to 1: 2 sets. From now on, the open exchange of blows that had been expected between Cilic and Thiem before the third match developed. With a score of 2: 2, Cilic first worked out a 15:40, Thiem fought off with a net attack and serve. Cilic also missed the third opportunity to break, Thiem reacted emotionally to the game win.
And made it better a few moments later: A backhand ball from Cilic landed in the net, Thiem took the lead 4: 2, but made a few minor mistakes when the server was 5: 3 - Cilic had his two chances for a comeback not use, Thiem got his first match point with an ace. And left the pitch as the winner after 2:28 hours of play.
Cilic had suffered from his last games, Thiem said after the match in an on-court interview with Darren Cahill. He felt a bit tired at the beginning of the fourth set, especially since the spectators were missing to push the players. But it is getting better and better, although he is not yet 100 percent satisfied with his performance.
Félix Auger-Aliassime is now waiting for Dominic Thiem in the round of 16 on Monday. The Canadian also knew how to convince in his third match at the US Open 2020, swept Corentin Moutet from France 6: 1, 6: 0 and 6: 4 from the court. In the quarter-finals after that there is definitely a surprise man: either Vasek Pospisil or Alex de Minaur. Pospisil won in five sets against Roberto Bautista Agut on Saturday as did de Minaur against Karen Khachanov.