https://cna-sg-res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/q_auto,f_auto/image/13105070/16x9/991/557/6ee7b8a4d404f9418aa68df1b439ca62/ea/dominic-thiem-of-austria-returns-the-ball-during-his-semi-final-against-daniil-medvedev-of-russia-at-the-2020-us-open-1599884437625-3.jpg — Dominic Thiem of Austria returns the ball during his semi-final against Daniil Medvedev of Russia at the 2020 US Open. (Photo: AFP/MATTHEW STOCKMAN)

Tennis: Thiem grinds through two tiebreaks to reach US Open final

12 Sep 2020, 11:40

NEW YORK: Dominic Thiem advanced to his second Grand Slam final of 2020, digging out a win over third seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-2 7-6(7) 7-6(5) at the US Open on Friday (Sep 11).

Thiem seized the early momentum inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, handily carrying the first set without dropping a single first-serve point, but a double fault and a forehand error saw him hand Medvedev the break and the early lead in the second.

The Australian Open runner-up spent the remainder of the frame playing catch up, converting on a critical break to level the score 5-5 before the 24-year-old Russian dragged it into a tiebreak.

The 27-year-old Austrian, who had a trainer examine his ankle before the third set, slipped and fell twice in the match, unfurling a string of frustrated exclamations in the second incident, but regained his cool to survive yet another tiebreak to clinch the affair with a power forehand and a roar.

"I played my best tennis then towards the end of the sets," said Thiem, who is gunning for a maiden Grand Slam title. "Both tiebreaks were amazing. Tiebreaks are mentally a tough thing. I don't like them at all to be honest.

"I'm really happy to be through. It was a great semi-final," he added.

Thiem will take on Germany's Alexander Zverev in Sunday's US Open final.