Dominic Thiem reaches Melbourne final and senses his chance

The Austrian faces the “ultimate challenge” at the Australian Open. Tournament king Novak Djokovic ennobled him beforehand.

Dominic Thiem is one step away from his biggest career success in the Australian Open final. A step that could not be more difficult. “The ultimate challenge” is what Austria’s tennis star calls his final duel with Novak Djokovic on Sunday (9.30 a.m. / live Servus TV, Eurosport). The bookmakers see the 16-time Grand Slam winner from Serbia as a clear favorite, although Thiem believes the coup by some experts.

Will the strength be enough? On Friday in the semifinals, the 26-year-old from Lower Austria was able to answer this question with an impressive yes. But the 3: 6, 6: 4, 7: 6 (3), 7: 6 (4) over the resurrected Alexander Zverev was another physical and mental effort. The duel, similar to that of Djokovic with Roger Federer, was not at the highest level for two and a half sentences. There was a lot of ups and downs on both sides. “It was noticed that we were both nervous,” said Thiem.

At first, Thiem made many slight mistakes. In the second round, Zverev, who otherwise impressed with a great service, brought him back into the match with two double faults. In the third set, Thiem was on the verge of a double break before he spectacularly fended off two set balls and won the tie-break. “A key moment,” said Thiem, who unpacked his best tennis again in the most important moments and finally also won the fifth tie-break in a row (three of them against Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals).

“Perhaps experience has decided it for me,” said Thiem after another marathon of almost four hours. In which he also had to deal with stomach problems. “It was a bit bad for me, especially when there are such tight games, it gets nervous about the substance. I have that more often and is not something to worry about. But of course I have a lot of energy and effort in this tournament invested, “he said, confirming that he was feeling the strain of the brilliant four-hour thriller against Nadal. And now comes Djokovic. “It is my third Grand Slam final and for the third time I’m playing against the king of the tournament,” said Thiem about his two losses in Paris against eleven-time triumphant Nadal and now the duel with the seven-time Melbourne winner.

Although he is of course aware of his outsider role, he promised with the cheers in the 15,000 spectators in the Rod Laver Arena: “I will really give everything that I have in me.” His opponent in the final, who only had to give up one set in the course of the tournament and whose way to the final was almost six (!) Hours shorter, Thiem ennobled in advance. “Dominic has long since found his place in the middle of the absolute top and more than deserves it. He is a great player and keeps improving. He has everything you need to win a Grand Slam tournament,” said the 32- Yearlings before their eleventh direct duel (see Facts & Figures).

Thiem is 4: 6 behind, but he has already won three duels on the biggest stages. Those in the French Open semi-finals and the ATP finals only last year. “I played great in London. I believe that I can deliver it again. First I have to regenerate as best as possible,” Thiem is looking forward to the next high point in his career. Legends and experts trust Thiem to do everything. “In this form, Dominic has every chance against Novak, who is currently almost untouchable,” says Pat Cash.

In any case, Thiem has already written sports history again. He is the first Austrian to be in the final of the Australian Open. Thomas Muster, whom he took off as a coach during the tournament, reached the semi-finals down under 1989 (defeat against Ivan Lendl) and 1997 (Pete Sampras).

While Djokovic came to Melbourne anyway as a top favorite and Thiem was one of the first challengers, the women’s final on Saturday (9.30 a.m.) is a final act that was not to be expected. The unsettled Spaniard Garbine Mugurza meets the American Sofia Kenin.

That was the match in the live ticker:

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