Already a four-time ATP World Tour champion this season, 23-year-old Dominic Thiem is riding high on his formula for success. The co-leader with Novak Djokovic for match wins this season, on 56, the Austrian is on track to qualify for his first Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. An often unrecognised statistic in his winning ways, though, is his enviable tour-leading 21-1 record in deciding sets for the year to date. “Every time I read it I’m impressed about the statistic,” Thiem laughs. It is a huge improvement on last season, a combination of factors the Austrian puts down to luck, fitness and a healthy dose of confidence. “A lot of things have an influence,” he said. “First of all, in...
Dominic Thiem ended a memorable run by one of China's top-ranked players at the Chengdu Open on Thursday. The top seed dismissed Di Wu 6-4, 6-4 in 67 minutes to move into the quarter-finals. Wu was going for more personal history at his home tournament. The Chinese No. 2 celebrated his first ATP World Tour or Grand Slam main draw match win during his 14th try on Tuesday (d. Kravchuk). Against Thiem, Wu was trying to earn his first Top 10 victory. But the Austrian won almost 80 per cent of his first-serve points and broke Wu four times to reach his 13th ATP World Tour quarter-final of the season. Wu fell to 0-10 against Top 10 foes. “He was...
Grigor Dimitrov, top seed Dominic Thiem and Feliciano Lopez were among the stars to help celebrate the inaugural Chengdu Open on Tuesday night. Photo/Video: Chengdu Open
With the top four seeds in the semi-finals of an ATP World Tour event for the first time in 2016, a pair of enticing match-ups were on tap on Saturday at the Moselle Open. Top seed Dominic Thiem kicked off proceedings in Metz with a dramatic rally to overcome two-time champion Gilles Simon 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. The Austrian found himself with his back against the wall with Simon serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set, but he would not be denied his spot in the final. Thiem broke back with a massive down-the-line forehand and secured another break at 6-5 to force a decider with a cross-court backhand winner. Thiem continued to apply pressure on Simon's serve...
Dominic Thiem remained on course in the Emirates ATP Race To London as he defeated Gilles Muller on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Moselle Open. The top-seeded Austrian withstood 16 aces to beat the 33-year-old Luxembourg native 6-4, 7-6(5). “I’m very happy about the match because the return is one of my biggest weaknesses and it’s always tough against a good server like Gilles,” said Thiem. “The first set I returned really well… I broke him and I also had chances to break a second time.” Thiem currently sits in the seventh position in the Emirates ATP Race To London, behind Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori and Gael Monfils, who are also in close contention for the remaining five...