Thiem Caps Fantastic February With Acapulco Title

Dominic Thiem capped a sublime month of February with his fifth career ATP World Tour title and first at the 500 level, turning aside Bernard Tomic 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-3 at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco.

Thiem finishes with a 13-1 record in February, having prevailed in Buenos Aires and reaching the semi-finals in Rio de Janeiro. The 22 year old, who will rise to a career-high World No. 14 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, is the first Austrian to emerge victorious at the tournament since Thomas Muster completed a four-peat in 1996. Moreover, it was Thiem’s first ATP World Tour hard-court title, following four straight triumphs on clay.

“It was unbelievable,” said Thiem. “These three weeks have been amazing. Winning my first 500 title and first hard-court title, it was just perfect. It was how a final should be, between two young and up-and-coming players. I hope we’re going to play many more finals together. Both of us wanted to win so badly and I’m happy I was the one today.” 

Multiple Title Winners In 2016

A battle between two of the nine players born in the 1990s to win an ATP World Tour title, the youth movement was on full display as play commenced under the lights at the Hotel Princess Mundo Imperial.

Thiem had been dominant on Latin American soil throughout the month of February, unleashing his firepower with an aggressive game off the ground. But it was Tomic who had the upper hand in rallies early on, winning 14 of the first 20 baseline points. He would extract a forehand unforced error from Thiem to grab the first break of the match for 3-1.

Thiem has proven that if you leave the door ajar, he will bust it down, and he did just that with Tomic serving for the set at 5-3. A poor service game led to a break to love for the Austrian, who reeled off 12 straight points. The set would progress to a tie-break, where claimed the opener after 47 minutes.

In the second set, Tomic once again snagged an early break, edging ahead 3-2 after saving a pair of break points in the previous game. Thiem pressed to duplicate his first set comeback, but his Aussie opponent would deny a break point at 4-3 and another at 5-4 to force a decider.

Tomic would start the third set with a bang, inducing a forehand error that landed just wide of the tramline to break in the first game. But Thiem broke right back, reeling off six of the next eight games to secure the ‘Guaje’ trophy after one hour and 56 minutes.

ATP World Tour Finals Between Players Born In The 1990s

Thiem, who fired 22 aces, takes home 500 Emirates ATP Rankings points and $321,625 in prize money. His 18 match wins in 2016 lead the ATP World Tour, moving two ahead of Roberto Bautista Agut.

Tomic, meanwhile, earns 300 points and $151,050 for his efforts. He was bidding to win a fourth ATP World Tour title in his fifth final. The Australian had lifted a trophy in each of the previous three seasons.

“It’s not easy, I’d love to win,” said Tomic. “It could have been huge if I won, but I had my chances. That’s the biggest disappointment, having the chance to win. I’m frustrated with myself… I was leading in the first set and then I lost it and I was up a break in the third and gave away my serve straight away.

“But he was playing very well and he’s an amazing competitor. Every point he’s competing. He was feeling good on court and has been playing well all week. In the final of big tournaments, you have to take your chances in the big moments. I didn’t take it.”