2020 in Review: Dominic Thiem tops Felix Auger-Aliassime in New York

The 2nd seed Dominic Thiem advanced to the US Open quarter-final after defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6, 6-1, 6-1 in two hours and seven minutes. The Austrian became the top favorite for the title in the absence of Novak Djokovic, competing on a high level and toppling the Canadian in sets two and three to advance into the seventh Major quarter-final, the second in New York in three years. Felix became the first player born in 2000 with the fourth round at a Major, hoping to extend his run but falling short against a much more powerful and experienced rival. They had a similar number of winners, but Felix had to add more than 50 unforced errors to his tally, missing too many groundstrokes to stand a chance against world no. 3 after a tight opener. Thiem played against three break points, giving serve away once and mounting the pressure on the other side to clinch six breaks from 14 opportunities, cruising into the last eight, where he played against another young gun Alex de Minaur.

Seeking a reliable start, Auger-Aliassime repelled three break points in the first game and held after four deuces with a booming serve to avoid an early setback. The 20-year-old hit another winner in the third game to erase a break chance, wasting his return opportunity at 2-1 and falling 3-2 behind following a forehand error in game five. Dominic brought games six and eight home with ease, serving for the set at 5-4. Out of a sudden, the Austrian sprayed a forehand error to suffer a break at 15, bringing Felix back to 5-5 and squandering two break chances in the next game to find himself in the tie break.

Dominic Thiem reached the US Open quarter-final after beating Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Staying focused, Thiem won all six points behind the serve, firing a beautiful backhand winner to secure a mini-break in the fourth point and closing the breaker in the 11th point following Auger-Aliassime's forced error. Felix wasted a game point in the second set's second game to suffer a break after a loose forehand, spraying another right-wing stroke that cost him a break in game three.

Thiem earned another break at 4-1 and fired three winners in game seven to seize the set 6-1 and move closer to the finish line. Felix faded from the court in set number three with nothing left in the tank, taking four points on the return and getting broken thrice to propel Dominic over the finish line. The Austrian broke at love in the first game following another unsecured forehand from Auger-Aliassime, with the same scenario occurring at 3-1. Returning at 5-1, Thiem landed a backhand down the line winner for the third break of serve at love and a place in the last eight.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3mRIFrp