2 absolute warriors: Dominc Thiem wins US Open crown, Alexander Zverev respect after marathon final

US Open 2020 final: Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev gave it their all at the Flushing Meadows before the Austrian scripted an unbelievable comeback to win his maiden Grand Slam crown.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Dominc Thiem defeated Alexander Zverev 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(6) in the final
• Thiem became the 1st man in 71 years to win a US Open final after being 2 sets down
• Rod Laver said he is confident that both Thiem and Zverev will play many Grand Slam finals in the future

There was no Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic at the other side of the net for Dominic Thiem in Sunday's US Open 2020 final. It was his good friend and lower-ranked Alexander Zverev whom he had to overcome for his maiden Grand Slam title.

Men's singles tennis was waiting for its 1st new Grand Slam champion in 6 years. Both the young men out at the Arthur Ashe Stadium were a step away from realising their childhood dreams. In the end, it was Austria's Dominic Thiem who emerged the winner in a 4-hour slugfest where errors and nerves dominated, given the history in the offing.

Dominic Thiem couldn't have asked for a worse start. This time, he was not the underdog. Analysis and commentators didn't say he had nothing to lose. Thiem had everything to win. And that pressure seems to have weighed upon the 27-year-old as he surrendered the first 2 sets to Alexander Zverev who looked sharp on the day of the big final. Thiem was broken early in the 3rd set as well.

However, Thiem didn't give up. He put behind the early setback and rallied back to become the first man in 71 years to win the tournament final after dropping the opening two sets.

For 23-year-old Alexander Zverev, an unprecedented 5th-set tiebreaker at the US Open became a bit too much to handle as his serve crumbled along with his dreams at the Flushing Meadows.

Without the Big 3, Thiem and Zverev made sure they put on a show for tennis fans who were glued to their screens to watch what could possibly be the start of a new era for men's singles tennis.

Congratulatory messages started pouring in for both Dominc Thiem and Alexander Zverev for their heartening act in the US Open final.

Tennis great and 11-time Grand Slam champion, Rod Laver took to social media to laud the 2 youngsters who managed to make use of the opportunities that came their way. Laver believes both Thiem and Zverev have the ability to last till the final Sunday at Grand Slam tournaments in the future.

"A magnificent effort to win your first major @ThiemDomi, I feel very happy for you. It has been great to get to know you and @AlexZverev at the #LaverCup, I look forward to watching many more Grand Slam finals between you both," Laver wrote.

Billie Jean King lauded Dominic Thiem for the historic comeback. She said: "What a comeback. Congratulations to @ThiemDomi, the 2020 @usopen Men's Singles champion! He has just won his first Grand Slam title."

'Much more than winners and losers'

India's Somddev Devvarman summed up the emotions of quite a few tennis fans with his reaction.

"When a tennis match makes you feel such emotions as a spectator, you know it's one for the ages. Sasha zverev and Dominic Thiem are more than winners and losers tonight. Much more. Take a bow gentlemen!" Devvarman wrote.

"It's hard to comment on such an emotionally intense final. It was so tough to watch, nevertheless to talk about it. Well done Dominic and Sasha!" Alexandra Dulgheru said.