Last Time Thiem Did This? February 2016
Last Time Thiem Did This? February 2016
In 2017, Dominic Thiem reached five semi-finals, all of them on clay. But less than a week into the 2018 season, the World No. 5 has already reached a hard-court semi-final.
The top-seeded Thiem halted the run of #NextGenATP Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas on Thursday at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha 7-5, 6-4 to advance to his first outdoor hard-court semi-final since February 2016 in Acapulco, where he won the ATP World Tour 500 title (d. Tomic). Thiem also advanced to the semi-finals of the indoor Moselle Open in Metz in September 2016.
Thiem hit big all match and took time away from the 6’4” Tsitsipas, who reached his second ATP World Tour quarter-final by beating French veteran Richard Gasquet in straight sets on Wednesday.
The World No. 5 Thiem hit 33 winners and was successful during 10 of his 12 net attempts. He also won nearly 60 per cent of his second-serve return points (16/27).
“I was serving well again today and returning well. That’s what I was working on in the off-season so it already pays off now,” Thiem said on court after the match.
He walked away impressed with Tsitsipas. The 19-year-old Greek, who was the youngest Doha quarter-finalist since 2006 runner-up Gael Monfils, has now reached consecutive ATP World Tour quarter-finals, dating back to his semi-final run at the European Open in Antwerp last October.
“He’s already so good at a young age. I think he’s going to be for sure a top player in the near future,” Thiem said. “He’s playing very well, aggressive with a good service, nice one-handed backhand.”
The Austrian will next face Monfils, who saved a set point in the second set to beat German Peter Gojowczyk 6-3, 7-6(6). Monfils last reached a semi-final in June 2017 at the International Eastbourne. The Frenchman is playing in his first tournament since 2017 US Open. Thiem leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 3-0.
Andrey Rublev, another #NextGenATP star, had better luck during his quarter-final match. The 20-year-old Russian, who was runner-up at last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals, beat Croatia’s Borna Coric for the second time in as many matches 6-3, 7-5 to reach the third semi-final of his career (also 2016 Umag, 2016 Milan).
Rublev was down a break, 2-4, in the second set, but rallied to advance in straight sets. The 20-year-old Moscow native also beat Coric in the semi-finals of the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.
“I was feeling the ball well. I knew since the beginning of the match that I have to try to dictate the point. I have to try to attack. I have to try to lead, but I have to try to do it with a good position. That was the key,” Rublev said.
Rublev will next face Argentina’s Guido Pella, who saved both break points faced and dismissed qualifier Mirza Basic of Bosnia and Herzegovina 6-2, 6-3. Pella, No. 64 in the ATP Rankings, will look to reach his third ATP World Tour final (2017 Munich, 2016 Rio de Janeiro).