Dominic Thiem saved two match points to overcome Roger Federer 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-4 in the semifinals of the Mercedes Cup on Saturday afternoon. Thiem survived a rain-interrupted, roller-coaster showdown to book his place alongside doubles partner Philipp Kohlschreiber in Sunday’s championship.
A single service break was enough for Federer in the opening set, but things became far less straightforward in a hurry. Thiem squandered all of a 5-0 lead in the second and eventually found himself down a match point twice in the ensuing tiebreaker. The 22-year-old saved one when Federer netted a backhand volley and fought off another with a winning backhand return.
Like in the first set, the decider came down to just one break. This time it went to Thiem, who struck at 3-3 when Federer mis-hit a forehand volley into the tape. Rain temporarily prevented the world No. 7 from reaching the finish line, but he eventually came back out and delivered two routine service holds to clinch victory after one hour and 57 minutes.
“To beat the greatest ever on maybe his best surface, you need a lot of luck,” Thiem said of the seven-time Wimbledon champion. “I cannot believe it really; what a feeling, especially on grass…. I was so nervous–obviously at 5-0 in the second set. I was fortunate in the tiebreaker, but you need good luck to beat the best player on grass.”
The third seed is now tied with Novak Djokovic for the top spot in match wins this season, with 44. He is 44-11, while Djokovic is 44-3.
Kohlschreiber, who was Thiem’s doubles partner in Stuttgart and will be the same next week in Halle, awaits on Sunday. The seventh-seeded German ended Juan Martin Del Potro’s run 6-3, 6-4 in another rain-delayed contest that concluded shortly before darkness.
Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lV81LkCBTo
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