Dominic Thiem: I only joked about calling Andy Murray after lost US Open final

Austrian tennis star Dominic Thiem said he never actually talked with Andy Murray on how to deal with Grand Slam losses. 

After beating Daniil Medvedev to reach the US Open final, Thiem joked he would speak with Murray if he lost to the Russian. 

"No, I never talked to anyone. I mean, it was all good so far. But I was joking about it," Thiem said.

"Well, it's easy for Andy because he has won three in the meantime. But, well, that's not what I'm thinking about Sunday. I just going to go in fully focused, like in all the six previous matches. Well, the world continues no matter what's result is, so it's going to be fine.

"Of course, I'm super happy that I gave myself another chance to be in the finals, pretty quick after Australia. Going to be a great one against a very good friend and a great rival."

Thiem determined to claim a maiden Grand Slam 

Thiem, a two-time French Open runner-up and one-time Australian Open runner-up, will battle against his good friend Alexander Zverev in the US Open final. 

Thiem called Zverev a "hell of a player" ahead of the final but he is on a mission and he wants to finally lift his maiden Grand Slam title.

"No, I mean, I won't change my mindset at all. I know what Sascha is capable of. Also the last match we had in Australia, we were both, I mean, really, really good. It was such a close match," Thiem said.

"I will go in like in the previous six matches. As I said, I mean, from the moment Novak was out of the tournament, it was clear that there's going to be a new Grand Slam champion. From that moment on, that was also out of my mind. I was just focusing on the remaining guys left in the draw.

"Now it's Sascha remaining, the last one, my opponent in the finals. I will fully focus on him and just go into that match like in the all other matches I was going in so far in this tournament.

"He's a hell of a player. One of the greatest ones in last years. Won all titles besides a major. He will also try everything what he's capable of doing to win the title. It's going to be a super difficult match.

"For me, it really doesn't matter whether it's him or one of the big three. I just try to go in there and give my best."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2ZxCqR0