Australian Open 2020: Dominic Thiem defeats Alexander Zverev to book final clash with Novak Djokovic
Dominic Thiem will face Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final after coming from a set down to defeat Alexander Zverev in a match that produced some of the most insane tennis of the tournament.
Richard Evans
2 min read
January 31, 2020 - 11:50PM
Dominic Thiem celebrates his victory over Alexander Zverev.
Dominic Thiem, who has beaten Novak Djokovic in four of their last five encounters will face the Serb in Sunday’s Australian Open singles final after overcoming Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(3).
RE-CAP ALL THE SEMI FINAL ACTION IN OUR BLOG BELOW
"It is absolutely unreal and what a start to the season," a jubilant Thiem said.
"It was not easy after playing four hours 10 minutes against Rafa (Nadal). I was in bed about 5am two days ago."
Dominic Thiem celebrates his victory over Alexander Zverev.
The fans who bought their tickets in the winter months understandably came expecting Roger or Rafa or Novak. Instead they got Dom and Alex, two men of the future but at times before nearly 15,000 people on Rod Laver Arena, two rabbits in the headlights also.
Should he have been remotely tired from his efforts this fortnight, the odds are that Novak Djokovic will have nodded off way before the third set had he tuned in to do his homework for the final.
The next gen are coming but on this evidence, not in February 2020.
Between two men who play from the back, it was frequently clay court tennis but without the clay.
Alexander Zverev is on top in his Aus Open semi final clash with Dominic Thiem.
Sets one and two were a lesson in how not to serve in a semi-final, Thiem losing serve four times, Zverev three, their second serves enough to torture any watching decent club player into thinking they too might have had a pro career. By contrast, the German’s first serve was impeccable nearly all night.
"It's not nice to play these return games when he gets all these first serves, " Thiem said.
Not that it helped him, neither man could hold a lead, games were won in ones and twos, nerves aplenty in a bitty yet often thrilling match. As entertainment it stood up well, the world number five (Thiem) and number seven equally matched yet incapable of exerting control.
The match was Thiem’s fifth major semi-final – all on Paris clay – but Zverev had not come this far in any major and that perhaps was the difference, Thiem clinching the pivotal third set tie-break 7-3 after a set lasting 82 minutes.
"It was an unreal match," Thiem said.
"Two tiebreaks, so tough and so close.
"It was almost impossible to break him."
Dominic Thiem has fought his way back into the match.
Before they began, the on-court announcer reminded the crowd that Zverev would donate his entire winnings to bushfire recovery if he wins this tournament but surprisingly it failed to engage the fans. The gesture was genuine, Zverev is not money driven, but the apathy suggested the crowd mentally was already in Sunday as much as the present.
Thiem, older by four years at 26, could be mistaken for a young Federer, headband and long hair, similar physique, stylish single handed backhand (topspin, not slice) while further confusion arose when the players turned up in near identical shirts and headbands (do they never check pre-match?).
Yet Djokovic will not be fooled.
If Thiem can assert himself fully on Sunday, he has a small chance. He is one of the best players in the world Djokovic said this week.
Even so, he might be advised not to watch a repeat of last year’s men’s final where Djokovic demolished Nadal. Unless the newcomer sheds the nerves, a similar outcome is nailed on for 2020.
Updates
Malfunctioning lights caused a break of more than 10 minutes after the first game of the third set and Dominic Thiem has revealed it helped calm his nerves.
More specifically, a tune that reminded him of home blared out of the Rod Laver Arena speakers – Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond.
"I like that song. I felt like I'm in Austria on skiing holidays," Thiem said.
"That's where they play that song all the time.
"It was loosening me up a little bit."
He would go on to win the next two sets, despite battling an upset tummy.
"I was feeling nerves, I think," he said.
"I was putting so much energy and effort in.
"My stomach was not ready for that, I think it was rebelling a little bit.
"But all good. I sometimes have it when I'm really close and tough matches, but all is good, it went away again."
Thiem will face Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final after coming from a set down to defeat Zverev 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(7-3), 7-6(7-4).
Chair umpire John Blom explained the situation.
"Lights behind the baseline have gone out. We are trying to see if we can get them turned back on," he said.
Herald Sun columnist Sam Groth was courtside
"I am not sure which ones they are. They are trying to work it out inside here the stadium.
"I didn't think it was lights out. I am sitting here with (Simona Halep's coach) Darren Cahill and we can't pick which lights are out.
"I don't think it has made a difference.
"For the players out there maybe they notice it but we can't notice.
"John Blom out there saying 'Can we play with what we got?'
"There is a crew in there trying to work things out."
How 'Sweet Caroline' helped calm Thiem
Michael Randall
Malfunctioning lights caused a break of more than 10 minutes after the first game of the third set and Dominic Thiem has revealed it helped calm his nerves.
More specifically, a tune that reminded him of home blared out of the Rod Laver Arena speakers – Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond.
"I like that song. I felt like I'm in Austria on skiing holidays," Thiem said.
"That's where they play that song all the time.
"It was loosening me up a little bit."
He would go on to win the next two sets, despite battling an upset tummy.
"I was feeling nerves, I think," he said.
"I was putting so much energy and effort in.
"My stomach was not ready for that, I think it was rebelling a little bit.
"But all good. I sometimes have it when I'm really close and tough matches, but all is good, it went away again."
Thiem will face Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final after coming from a set down to defeat Zverev 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(7-3), 7-6(7-4).
Chair umpire John Blom explained the situation.
"Lights behind the baseline have gone out. We are trying to see if we can get them turned back on," he said.
Herald Sun columnist Sam Groth was courtside
"I am not sure which ones they are. They are trying to work it out inside here the stadium.
"I didn't think it was lights out. I am sitting here with (Simona Halep's coach) Darren Cahill and we can't pick which lights are out.
"I don't think it has made a difference.
"For the players out there maybe they notice it but we can't notice.
"John Blom out there saying 'Can we play with what we got?'
"There is a crew in there trying to work things out."
Dominic Thiem will face Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final after coming from a set down to defeat Alexander Zverev.
It was a match that had everything. Monster serves, insane winners, frustration at a stats screen from Zverev and even a delay due to malfunctioning lights.
"It was an unreal match," Thiem said.
"Two tiebreaks, so tough and so close.
"It was almost impossible to break him.
"Australian Open finals is absolutely unreal.
"What a start to the season so far.
The match went for nearly four hours, after his clash with Rafael Nadal lasted over four hours.
"I was playing four hours ten against Rafa, who is the most intense guy on tour, almost always so intense and long, so I was in bed at around 5pm two days ago," he said.
"So it was not easy to recover. But once all the adrenalin came, already when I walked into the full stadium was fine, actually, but still I had some troubles in the first set.
"I think we both were nervous, we started with two breaks, both our first semi finals here, so it was not easy and it was a tough start for me."
Dominic Thiem defeats Alexander Zverev
Michael Randall
Dominic Thiem will face Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final after coming from a set down to defeat Alexander Zverev.
It was a match that had everything. Monster serves, insane winners, frustration at a stats screen from Zverev and even a delay due to malfunctioning lights.
"It was an unreal match," Thiem said.
"Two tiebreaks, so tough and so close.
"It was almost impossible to break him.
"Australian Open finals is absolutely unreal.
"What a start to the season so far.
The match went for nearly four hours, after his clash with Rafael Nadal lasted over four hours.
"I was playing four hours ten against Rafa, who is the most intense guy on tour, almost always so intense and long, so I was in bed at around 5pm two days ago," he said.
"So it was not easy to recover. But once all the adrenalin came, already when I walked into the full stadium was fine, actually, but still I had some troubles in the first set.
"I think we both were nervous, we started with two breaks, both our first semi finals here, so it was not easy and it was a tough start for me."
1-0 – Thiem's first serve is a rocket and Zverev can't get it back.
2-0 – DOUBLE FAULT for Zverev – pressure on.
3-0 – Cross court from Zverev is called out, challenged and Hawkeye puts Thiem up 3-love.
3-1 – Huge rally, both men digging deep for some insane returns and then Thiem makes the mistake.
3-2 – Thiem misses down the line and it's back on serve. Pressure getting to both men. Whoever makes the least mistakes from here.
4-2 – Collective groan in the media grid and from the commentators. Zverev just missed a very easy overhead and he's in trouble here.
4-3 – Thiem's lob return is long.
DRAMA HERE AT 4-3 – linesman calls it out, chair umpire overrules and Thiem will get a first serve to replay the point.
5-3 – Thiem with a mammoth forehand winner and he's got a massive chance here.
6-3 – Carbon copy monster forehand cross court winner and it's three match points from here.
6-4 – The Zverev serve saves the first one.
7-4 – DOMINIC THIEM WINS! WHAT A RALLY, WHAT A MATCH
Thiem wins Fourth set tiebreak
Michael Randall
1-0 – Thiem's first serve is a rocket and Zverev can't get it back.
2-0 – DOUBLE FAULT for Zverev – pressure on.
3-0 – Cross court from Zverev is called out, challenged and Hawkeye puts Thiem up 3-love.
3-1 – Huge rally, both men digging deep for some insane returns and then Thiem makes the mistake.
3-2 – Thiem misses down the line and it's back on serve. Pressure getting to both men. Whoever makes the least mistakes from here.
4-2 – Collective groan in the media grid and from the commentators. Zverev just missed a very easy overhead and he's in trouble here.
4-3 – Thiem's lob return is long.
DRAMA HERE AT 4-3 – linesman calls it out, chair umpire overrules and Thiem will get a first serve to replay the point.
5-3 – Thiem with a mammoth forehand winner and he's got a massive chance here.
6-3 – Carbon copy monster forehand cross court winner and it's three match points from here.
6-4 – The Zverev serve saves the first one.
7-4 – DOMINIC THIEM WINS! WHAT A RALLY, WHAT A MATCH
Fourth set: Thiem 6 – 6 Zverev
Michael Randall
Zverev holds his serve.
We're into a tiebreak.
"This crowd's getting its money's worth, that's for sure."
You're not wrong, John.
Fourth set: Thiem 6 – 5 Zverev*
Michael Randall
Thiem edges in front again, up 6-5.
He's so close, he can taste it.
But he has to deal with the serve of Zverev again.
Fourth set: *Thiem 5 – 5 Zverev
Michael Randall
Thiem put Zverev under the pump there, but the German has him covered.
He's approached the net again and, with Thiem standing so deep on Zverev's service, he can pretty much hit the ball wherever he wants.
That's the best game of this set so far.
Thiem wins the game, but some of the tennis served up at the other end is insane.
One shot in particular had John McEnroe in disbelief.
"How in the world did he hit that"
Just a little forehand slap out of the corner of the court that touches the tramline on the other side – Thiem can't get near it.
The Austrian can win the match here, if he can somehow break Zverev.
