A red-hot Andrey Rublev will take on U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem for a spot in the Vienna semifinals on Friday. Thiem won the title in front his home crowd last year.
Andrey Rublev is having a monster year. The Russian has collected four titles so far in the abbreviated 2020 season with eyes on a fifth in Vienna. Rublev hasn’t quite broken through at the slams yet, although a pair of quarterfinal showings in New York and Paris this year suggest that it’s only a matter of time before he makes some serious noise at the majors.
Dominic Thiem pocketed his first-ever Grand Slam win at the U.S. Open in September. The Austrian made a heroic comeback in the final–down two sets to Alexander Zverev–to win in five and secure the biggest title of his career.
Friday’s match has all the makings of a blockbuster. Thiem is playing on home turf, while Rublev is fighting to secure a spot in the Nitto ATP Finals–which will feature the top 8 male players battling it out in London. Thiem swept aside Cristian Garin in easy straight sets in his second-round match on Thursday, while Rublev played exactly three games against Jannik Sinner before the 19-year-old Italian retired due to a foot injury.
Thiem will likely have the edge in Friday’s match. He’s had enough time to recover from his efforts in New York and his blistering five-set loss to Diego Schwartzman at the French Open. And despite the fact that Rublev is playing the best tennis of his career, he’s playing Thiem on the world No. 3’s home court.
Cheryl pick: Thiem in 3
Ricky pick: Rublev in 3
WWW?
in 3
Tough to call but Thiem in three
It was a good first set. Then Thiem went somewhat off-track and Rublev had no problem taking the match in 2 sets!
If Thiem loses today, might as well hand the trophy to Nole.
No. This tournament in Vienna is far from over 😀
Nole and Dom are out – it’s down to Anderson, Rublev, Sonego, Dimitrov, or Evans!
Surprising tennis today.
Because playing at his home ground, I think Thiem in 3.