Dominic Thiem shocked top seed Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev ousted former champion Stan Wawrinka as tennis’s young pretenders stole a march on the old guard to reach the Australian Open semi-finals on Wednesday.
Austria’s Thiem, 26, beat Nadal 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (8/6) – his first win in six attempts at Grand Slams, including two French Open finals – to end the 33-year-old’s bid to equal Roger Federer’s record 20 Major titles.
Thiem had Nadal’s measure in the first two sets and he recovered from dropping the third to win the fourth-set tie-breaker, getting off the floor after falling to win one point and enjoying some luck from the net cord to set up the third and decisive match point.
‘Win any tie-break’
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) January 29, 2020
Rafael Nadal, when asked what he would have liked to do differently. #AusOpen
The Spanish matador has been tamed. Dominic Thiem was breathtaking tonight. What a display of steel and, at times, style this has been from the Austrian.#AusOpen
— Srinivasa Raghavan (@psraghavn) January 29, 2020
Dominic Thiem is the GOAT.
— David Law (@DavidLawTennis) January 29, 2020
He’s just become the first player in history to win a baseline rally against Rafael Nadal despite falling on his arse in the middle of it.
Nadal is *3-19* lifetime when down two sets to love.
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) January 29, 2020
The last time he came back to win the match was at Wimbledon 2007.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/2DaMkpKDBC
Thiem cameback from 3-5 (30-40) in the first and 2-4 in the 2nd.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 29, 2020
He lost one of 39 matches in his life from 2 sets to 0 up.
Congratulations to Thiem fans, commiserations to Nadal fans. Domi won 148 to 143, or 51% to 49%. Tight match.
— Andrew Burton (@burtonad) January 29, 2020
Hugely impressive performance from a fast-improving Thiem. Won forehand to Nadal backhand duel comfortably (which he usually loses in biggest matches vs Rafa) sliced his way out of trouble instead of UE’s, & for most part showed great stability
— Matthew Willis (@MattRacquet) January 29, 2020
Nadal simply off his best today
Dominic Thiem served for the match against Rafael Nadal at 5-4 in the fourth. Three forehand unforced errors and a double fault. 5-all.
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) January 29, 2020
What was thing Federer said about demons?
For the first time in the history of the life, Rafael Nadal loses 3 tiebreakers in one match.#DEPORTES
— Matt Zemek (@mzemek) January 29, 2020
For the first time in the history of the life, Dominic Thiem makes a hardcourt major semifinal.
You never know, folks. Never.
Thiem is only the second player ever to beat Nadal in 5 consecutive years (2016-2020)
— enrico maria riva (@enricomariariva) January 29, 2020
(Djokovic has a 6 years streak 2011-2016)
Nadal was 1 point from winning the first set.
— Matt Zemek (@mzemek) January 29, 2020
Nadal was 3 points from winning the second set.
Nadal was 2 points from winning the fourth set.
A reminder that 1-3 points promise nothing in tennis.#AusOpen
Last time #Nadal came back from 2 sets to 0 down to push the match to 5 sets:
— Roger Laver (@DonaldTendulkar) January 29, 2020
2017 Wimbledon vs Muller (lost 13-15 in the 5th)
Last time he won from 2 sets down:
2007 Wimbledon vs Youzhny#AusOpen#atptour#Thiem
Thiem's last 12 months on hardcourts
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 29, 2020
Indian Wells W
Beijing W
Vienna W
ATP Finals F#AusOpen SFs*
Montreal and Shanghai QFs
Not too bad, uh?
Hey Twitter...
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 29, 2020
How do we think @AlexZverev is enjoying this 3 hours & 36 minutes (and counting) match? 😅 #AusOpen
(With AFP inputs)