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Dominic Thiem ended his career at the ATP 500 event in Vienna in October. The 31-year-old could not deal with ongoing wrist issues anymore, struggling to settle into the top-100 and terminating his tennis journey.
The Austrian claimed 348 ATP wins and conquered a Major and a Masters 1000 trophy. His favorite triumph came against Novak Djokovic at the 2019 ATP Finals. Thiem overpowered Djokovic 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 in the round-robin stage, remaining perfect in London.
Dominic praised his performance against one of the greatest players of all time, describing it as the best match he ever played. The Austrian earned 16 victories over Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. He stands as the second player to have beaten all of them five times, joining Andy Murray on the exclusive list.
Thiem edges Djokovic on a memorable London night
Three years after their first ATP Finals duel, Dominic and Novak battled in the Bjorn Borg group in 2019. The Austrian prevailed 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 in two hours and 47 minutes, earning his second victory in London and moving into his first ATP Finals semi-final.
It was Thiem’s fourth victory over Djokovic in the previous five duels. He bounced back after the opener and kept his composure in the decider to earn a notable victory. Dominic clinched two points more than Novak and prevailed in the pivotal moments.
Thiem played a bit better behind the second serve. He denied six of nine break points and generated only four break chances. However, Dominic converted them all and remained in touch with the multiple champion.
The Austrian maintained his focus in the deciding tie break, trailing 4-1 before taking six of the final seven points. Thiem unleashed fury from his forehand and landed 50 winners and 44 unforced errors. Djokovic produced efficient but more reduced numbers, finishing on a 27-21 ratio.
Nothing separated them in shortest, mid-range and most extended exchanges, with the two rivals keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats.
Novak wins a tight opener
They battled for 64 minutes on the opener, although Novak was a better player. The Serb dropped ten points behind the initial shot and faced only one break point. The Austrian converted it to pull the break back, erasing the deficit and losing serve once from four chances offered to his opponent.
Djokovic tamed his strokes nicely, landing 13 winners and only two unforced errors and overpowering his rival in the closing stages. They served well in the opening three games, with Novak moving 2-1 in front with a hold at love after a service winner.
The Serb extended the fourth game and created a break chance. He welcomed the Austrian’s forehand drive-volley mistake for a break and a 3-1 advantage. Dominic stepped in on the return in the next one and generated three break points with a forehand drive-volley winner.
Thiem painted a backhand down the line winner on the first. He pulled the break back and returned to the positive side. The Austrian played against three break points in the sixth game, denying them with three winners and leveling the score at 3-3.
Novak secured the ninth game with a service winner and reached a deuce on the return in the next one. Dominic stayed focused and wrapped up the game with a serve & volley combo, extending the battle. Thiem fired a service winner in the 12th game and introduced a tie break.
The Austrian hit a double fault at 2-3 and netted a forehand in the eighth point to find himself 5-3 behind. He pulled the mini-break back with a forehand winner and cracked another for 5-5 and more drama. The Austrian sent a routine forehand long in the 11th point, facing a set point.
The Serb landed a service winner, sealing the deal in 64 minutes and gaining a boost.
Dominic responds in set number two
The Austrian played reliable tennis in the second set, landing 15 winners and providing five holds. Novak felt the pressure and cracked under it. Dominic landed an ace in the first game and made a push on the return in the next one. Thiem extended the game with a backhand down the line winner.
The younger player generated a break chance with a backhand down the line winner. He welcomed the rival’s volley error for a break and a 2-0 advantage. Dominic closed the third game with a forehand crosscourt winner, cementing the break and moving 3-0 in front.
Thiem survived deuces in the fifth game and closed it with a service winner to open a 4-1 gap. He fired another in game seven for 5-2 and served for the set in game nine. Dominic held at 15 following Novak’s mistake, wrapping up the set 6-3 and introducing a decider after an hour and 44 minutes.
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Thiem prevails after a thriller
The Austrian made a push on the return at the beginning of the decider. He cracked a forehand down the line winner and secured a break at 15. Dominic saved three break points in the second game and drew Novak’s mistake for a hold and a 2-0 lead.
Thiem landed a service winner in the fourth game for 3-1 before facing issues two games later. Dominic sprayed a forehand error and offered Novak two break points. The Serb seized the first with a forehand winner, erasing the deficit and locking the result at 3-3.
They produced holds at love in games seven and eight for more drama. The Serb repeated that in the ninth game and reached a deuce on the return in the next one, moving two points away from the finish line. Thiem stayed focused and clinched two points for a hold and 5-5.
Dominic stepped in on the return in the 11th game and broke at love after Novak’s loose forehand. He served for the win at 6-5 and sprayed a backhand error to offer Djokovic two break points. The Serb seized the first, introducing a tie break and extending his chances.
Novak forged a 3-0 advantage with two mini-breaks and landed a service winner for 4-1. Thiem painted two direct points on his serve for 3-4 and drew Djokovic’s mistake in the eighth point for a mini-break at 4-4. Raising his level, Dominic fired a forehand winner for another mini-break and a 5-4 lead.
The Austrian hit a smash winner in the tenth point and generated two match points. He missed a backhand on the first, keeping the legend in contention. Thiem attacked on the return on the second match point, causing Djokovic’s forehand error and moving over the top.
