Dominic Thiem has advanced to his second Grand Slam final of 2020, digging out a win over third seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-2 7-6(7) 7-6(5) at the US Open on Saturday (NZ time).
Thiem seized the early momentum inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, handily carrying the first set without dropping a single first-serve point, but a double fault and a forehand error saw him hand Medvedev the break and the early lead in the second.
The Australian Open runner-up spent the remainder of the frame playing catch up, converting on a critical break to level the score 5-5 before the 24-year-old Russian dragged it into a tiebreak.
The 27-year-old Austrian, who had a trainer examine his ankle before the third set, slipped and fell twice in the match, unfurling a string of frustrated exclamations in the second incident, but regained his cool to survive yet another tiebreak to clinch the affair with a power forehand and a roar.
"I played my best tennis then towards the end of the sets," said Thiem, who is gunning for a maiden Grand Slam title.
"Both tiebreaks were amazing. Tiebreaks are mentally a tough thing. I don't like them at all to be honest.
"I'm really happy to be through. It was a great semi-final," he added.
Thiem will take on Alexander Zverev in Monday's US. Open final, after the German overcame a listless start to secure a thrilling 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 6-3 semi-final win over Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta to reach his first Grand Slam final.
Zverev, with his back against the wall, raised his game just in time to deny the Spanish 20th seed the upset and, in doing so, secured his first career victory from two sets down on his second match point.
The German looked headed for certain defeat after committing 36 errors through the first two sets but used his versatile game to pick himself up and looked like a completely different player the rest of the way.
"I was actually looking at the scoreboard when I was down two sets to love and I was like 'I can't believe it, I am playing in the semi-final where I am supposed to be the favourite and I am down two sets to love," says Zverev.
"I knew that I had to come up with better tennis and I knew that I had to be more stable ... but I am through to my first Grand Slam final and that's all that matters."
Zverev, who is bidding to become the first German Grand Slam champion since Boris Becker won the 1996 Australian Open, will face either 2019 US Open finalist Daniil Medvedev or second seed Dominic Thiem in Monday's (NZ time) final.
Reuters
