Theim can’t save his own life, but saves Federer’s at Nitto ATP Finals

With an assist that would make even the NBA’s all-time great passers proud, Dominic Thiem helped Roger Federer reach the semis of the Nitto ATP Finals on Thursday.

Thiem took the pressure off Federer by kicking off Thursday’s proceedings with a 6-1, 6-4 rout of Kei Nishikori. Whereas the Austrian was already close to mathematical elimination with a 0-2 record and a 0-4 mark in total sets, Nishikori had been sitting at 1-1 with a win over Federer in his pocket.

But the Japanese veteran’s semifinal hopes faded swiftly and decisively, as he lost the first three games of the match and took a breadstick in the opening set. It was all but over for Nishikori when he dropped serve for a third time at 3-3 in the second.

“I think I gave him too many free points,” the world No. 9 lamented. “He was playing solid, too. There [were] not too many chances for me today…. I don’t know (why it was a tough week for me). I think I was fresh. I was really tired after Paris, but I took some rest. I don’t know; I just didn’t feel the ball this week. Could be the court or the ball. I don’t know, but yeah, just didn’t play well this week.”

Thiem played well in two of three matches, but that is not enough when Federer and Kevin Anderson are part of your round-robin group. Although the 25-year-old was eliminated in routine fashion a few hours following his victory, he still leaves London on something of a high note.

“I just went into that match and wanted to show my real self again, basically because two days ago (against Federer) was really bad,” Thiem explained. “I was not feeling good to play such a match in front of such a big crowd. I wanted to have a much better game again today; that’s what I did.

“I [made] some adjustments. I tried to have a higher first-serve percentage. Some things definitely paid off. Of course I’m happy that I got the win.

“To be honest, I’m not hoping for [a semifinal spot] because it’s not very realistic,” the Austrian admitted prior to Thursday’s night match. “I think both [Federer and Anderson] really deserve to go up. That’s how it’s going to be at the end.”

And Thiem was absolutely right.

Needing to take just five games from Anderson for a semifinal spot, Federer instead won the contest outright—beating the Wimbledon runner-up 6-4, 6-3 in just one hour and 17 minutes.

The 37-year-old, who at yet another tournament has improved with each match, finished with more winners (18) than unforced errors (14) and broke Anderson four times while dominating the South African’s second serve to the tune of winning 68 percent of such points.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wtZiX2zwcw

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