US Open 2020, men's semi-finals, Match Highlights: Dominic Thiem to face Alexander Zverev in final

Match stats from the second semi-final

Fantastic contest and very well fought between two great fighters. 

Respect at the net between two great competitors.

@ThiemDomi @DaniilMedwed | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/RciShrpKeT

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2020

Dominic Thiem: “In the first set, I don’t if his ball was out or in, got lucky. In the second and third sets he served for it. Both tiebreaks were amazing. They are mentally tough. I don’t like them much. Really happy to be through.”

“Definitely playing the big matches helps. Helps even more if in front of fans, big stadiums. I work in off season to play these top guys. I have great friendship and rivalry with Sascha.”

“In the second set tiebreak, my heel started to hurt. I changed the shoe. I’m pain free. I hope the foot feels better tomorrow. I don’t understand how I can slip on a hardcourt. I got frustrated. All good now.”

“The final is going to be an open match. In Australia, was also close. His first serve is out of the world. Precise. I have great friendship and rivalry. If I win, I have my first. If not, I will probably have to call Andy Murray about how it is to be 0-4.”

Thiem wins in straight sets

DOMINIC THIEM IS INTO THE #USOPEN FINAL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER! pic.twitter.com/XUVfxzfPzn

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2020

Game, set, match Dominic Thiem!

Dominic Thiem wins 6-2, 7-6, 7-6 in two hours and 55 minutes to beat last year’s US Open finalist Daniil Medvedev. He is into his fourth Grand Slam final.

Third set tiebreak

Medvedev gets one mini break back. Thiem goes for the running pass but the angle is too much. Medvedev with good placement of groundstrokes and then the volley. But he continues to play catch up at 2-5. Chalks off two more points to make it 4-5. A gorgeous drop volley first and a missed return from Thiem second. Not going away without a fight is Medvedev. Not that that’s a surprise. Thiem brings up match point with yet another barrage of backhands and Medvedev’s reply is wide. Misses it! Thiem goes for far too much on the forehand and it is well long. He is disappointed. “Why, why, why” he mutters, Another match point and this one is converted. Medvedev sends forehand into the net.

Third set tiebreak

Dominic Thiem gets the mini break to start the tiebreak. Just the kind of start he would have hoped for. Medvedev goes for too much with his backhand on the second point and Thiem is 2-0 up. Make that 3-0! Well angled and placed serve out wide has Medvedev stretching and the defensive return is well long. Uh-oh! Double fault by Medvedev and he is disintegrating here. Gets one point back. It is 5-1 at the change of ends after yet another big serve from Thiem.

Medvedev 2-6, 6-7, 6-6 Thiem (* denotes server)

Into the third set tiebreak we go! Thiem drops one point on his serve and from 2-5 down, he has given himself a fighting chance of closing this in straight sets.

Medvedev 2-6, 6-7, 6-5 *Thiem (* denotes server)

A love hold for Daniil Medvedev to stop Dominic Thiem’s runof games at 3. A simple hold would do the Russian a world of good. He can now focus on getting the all-important break

Medvedev* 2-6, 6-7, 5-5 Thiem (* denotes server)

Thiem drops two points on serve, brings in a well played serve and volley into the mix too, to hold serve. It is 5-5 in the third set

Medvedev 2-6, 6-7, 5-4 *Thiem (* denotes server)

Brilliant confident play from Thiem as Medvedev serves for the set. Great, confident play to go 15-30 to the good before Medvedev gets a big serve and puts away the short reply. A well played volley brings up set point. Medvedev with a mishit and it goes begging. Another big serve return from Thiem and it is deep for Medvedev to pick up and return. He gets it over but it lands long. Break point for Thiem. WHAT A POINT! WHAT A SHOT! Both players willing the other to go for broke. To go for it all. Sliced backhands after another. Thiem finally goes for a big backhand down the line and a desperate stretch from Medvedev gets the ball back but only for Thiem to run on and put it away for a winner. BREAK!

Medvedev* 2-6, 6-7, 5-3 Thiem (* denotes server)

Dominic Thiem drops one point on his serve – an unlucky ball hitting top of the tape but not jumping over on the other side. Daniil Medvedev to serve for the third set

Medvedev 2-6, 6-7, 5-2 *Thiem (* denotes server)

Daniil with perfect angles and placement of the groundstrokes to force Thiem into making mistakes. One such forehand brings Thiem to miss a running backhand. Medvedev holds and is closer to forcing a fourth set

Medvedev* 2-6, 6-7, 4-2 Thiem (* denotes server)

A less than perfect serve effort from Thiem in this game and not so surprisingly he has to deal with break point again. It is saved immediately and then on deuce, Thiem is flawless with his backhand winner down the lie. Gorgeous shot. But Medvedev sticking around and forces an error. Theim gets out of the hole in the end to hold serve

One shoe too many? 

👟👟👟👟👟👟 pic.twitter.com/MHe6T2H9fX

— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) September 12, 2020

Medvedev 2-6, 6-7, 4-1 *Thiem (* denotes server)

Thiem keeping the pressure on Medvedev and his serve. A long, long rally has Thiem sending slice after slice, forcing Medvedev into going for something extra and it arrives and so does a break point. But this time it is Medvedev who shows better control of the tennis racket. A drop shot and Thiem can’t make much of it. From deuce, another chance for Medvedev to hold. Just as he tries change direction and move forward to pick up the poor drop shot, he slips and loses it. Clearly upset with his shoes, the one’s he changed after the second set, he starts to scream out in German. Medvedev holds.

Medvedev* 2-6, 6-7, 3-1 Thiem (* denotes server)

Dominic Thiem gets on the board in the third set with a love hold. A kick serve down the T and Medvedev’s serve return is just wide.

Medvedev 2-6, 6-7, 3-0 *Thiem (* denotes server)

A forehand winner and a love hold for Daniil Medvedev to consolidate that break as Thiem once again plays catch up.

Medvedev* 2-6, 6-7, 2-0 Thiem (* denotes server)

Brilliant defensive work by Daniil Medvedev to push Dominic Thiem into playing one more shot, one more ball and it pays off. Thiem misses a backhand on break point and Medvedev has the early advantage in the third set. BREAK!

Medvedev 2-6, 6-7, 1-0 Thiem (* denotes server)

Dominic Thiem pushes Daniil Medvedev all the way on his serve at the start of the third set. No clear signs of Thiem’s foot being a problem. He moves forward for a drop shot pick up but can’t get high enough for a lob. Medvedev gets out of a tricky situation in the end to hold serve

A daunting ask for Daniil Medvedev… much like it was for Alexander Zverev

.@DaniilMedwed has never won a match in five sets.

To make consecutive #USOpen finals...

He'll have to do what Alex Zverev did previously & come from two sets down. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/V2hqNHPiq3

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 12, 2020

The trainer is out for Dominic Thiem as he removes his shoes and has a new pair handed by his team. A medical time out follows. 

Thiem stretching on the net post as he waits for the trainer.

He says his Achilles is hurting on his right leg.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/lZrZI7B15D

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 12, 2020

Second set: Dominic Thiem 7-6 (7)

Dominic Thiem wins the second set 7-6 to go two sets to love up. A well contested tiebreak goes the Austrian’s way after Daniil Medvedev plays one poor drop shot to give away the leeway. Medvedev had a break advantage before being broken in the 10th game.

Second set tiebreak

Daniil would rue that forehand going long. He had Thiem scrambling, into a defensive mindset and now a set point for Thiem. And it is saved quickly by Daniil. At 7-7 he goes for a drop shot which is far too weak and Thiem has the easy task of running on for a forehand winner. Set point for Thiem at 8-7 in the tiebreak. Couple of huge forehands and Medvedev’s defensive reply is into the net. Second set Dominic Thiem!

Second set tiebreak

Ace from Medvedev to restart the tiebreak. Thiem evens it after an errant backhand return on the serve from the Russian. 4-4 between the two. What incredible shot making from both. Thiem mixing it up with a forehand slice that went deep and could have been a drop shot. But it is the angle that gets him the point. At the end of a 22-shot rally, Thiem leads 5-4. Daniil with points on both his serves makes it 6-5 in his favour. Thiem serves to stay in this set. Well placed serve on the Medvedev backhand is into the net. 6-6 at the change of ends.

Second set tiebreak

WHAT A RALLY! Dominic Thiem wins the opening point with ease but he second is a serious slugest. A 34 shot rally has both players busy and touching both sides of the court. It is Thiem who buckles to the rising angles. But he gets a mini-break on the next point. He gives it back as the sliced backhand lands wide with Medvedev approaching the net. Daniil makes it 3-3 at the change of ends. Helps slightly by Thiem missing a forehand he should have made. Thiem thinks it was there for him to take it too. He appears surprised it didn’t go over.

Medvedev 2-6, 6-6 Thiem (* denotes server)

From 40-15 up, Daniil Medvedev is pushed on his serve to deuce. But holds serve eventually and into the tiebreak we go. Both players get one more challenge

Who do you think Sascha is texting? 

'Dear Novak, thanks for defaulting, I owe you one.' - Alexander Zverev#USOpen LIVE: https://t.co/s8nAOe1GYl https://t.co/9NGBDHtDT9

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) September 12, 2020

Medvedev* 2-6, 5-6 Thiem (* denotes server)

Poor serve from Dominic Thiem. The consistency is missing. A double fault gives Medvedev a break point and it is saved with a big serve that doesn’t come back. A sliced backhand on deuce hits the net and Medvedev has another chance. Another decently placed serve and the return doesn’t come back in play. A long game and a fifth break point chance for Medvedev follows. And it is saved once again. Theim with huge forehands on both sides of the court and it forces Daniil into an error. He eventually gets out unscathed but a 10 minute game would take some much-needed energy

Medvedev 2-6, 5-5 *Thiem (* denotes server)

Daniil Medvedev serves for the second set and Dominic Thiem ups the ante with some powerful hitting. The intensity seems to be back in the Austrian even if it might be too late for this set. Or is it? Thiem glides forward to a drop shot and forces Medvedev into one more ball and ekes out an error. Two break point chances. One saved by Medvedev but not the second. Daniil hits the net with his forehand and we’re at even footing. BREAK!

Medvedev* 2-6, 5-4 Thiem (* denotes server)

BRUTAL! Just when it looks like Daniil Medvedev is out of the point, he gets something special out of the bag. Thiem has the Russian on the run but he thunders a forehand winner down the line, over the highest part of the net. What a shot. But Thiem comes back to pick up four straight points to hold

Medvedev 2-6, 5-3 *Thiem (* denotes server)

Fifth ace of the match from Daniil Medvedev brings up game point but wishes to prolong this game but can only do so by a point. At 40-15, Medvedev with incredible fighting spirit to pick up a drive volley, a backhand into the corner and finds the angle to make the volley difficult for Thiem to pick up

Medvedev* 2-6, 4-3 Thiem (* denotes server)

Medvedev gets out of a sticky situation on his serve and then Thiem holds at love again to keep the second set down to a break.

Medvedev* 2-6, 3-2 Thiem (* denotes server)

Dominic Thiem holds at love and he continues to play catch up. Both players holding serves relatively easily this set and the rally length has dropped.

Can’t fault the ball kid, can we?

I have no idea whether it’s coming through on the courtside mics, but there is one ball kid who is done for the night who is cheering loudly for Meddy from the upper deck, and I love it and him so much for bringing it tonight.

— Mike Cation (@MikeCTennis) September 12, 2020

Medvedev 2-6, 2-0 *Thiem (* denotes server)

Daniil Medvedev holds at love to consolidate the break. Suddenly the momentum has shifted. Maybe the shout out is all that Medvedev needed to calm himself.

The mental image is quite something. 

I'm going to picture Medvedev leaving the court, going into an empty bathroom, screaming, and walking right back out.

— Naila-Jean Meyers🇵🇭 (@NailaJeanMeyers) September 12, 2020

Medvedev* 2-6, 1-0 Thiem (* denotes server)

Medvedev goes off court at the end of the first set to calm himself down and break the Thiem momentum. The plan seems to have worked. A double fault by Thiem brings up two break points and one is all that Daniil needs. Thiem misses a forehand and BREAK!

First set: Dominic Thiem 6-2

Dominic Thiem takes the opening set 6-2 in 35 minutes after a cagey start. Daniil Medvedev upset after a challenge wasn’t counted as he claimed. He takes a pop at the chair umpire and the tournament supervisor after getting a code violation for crossing the net – which is not allowed.