Nitto ATP Finals 2020: Dominic Thiem manages to edge past Rafael Nadal in one of the most magnificent match of the tournament
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World No.3 Dominic Thiem defeated World No.2 Rafael Nadal in straight sets 6-7(7), 6-7(4) to go on the top of the Tokyo 1970 group. In one of the most mesmerizing match of tennis, Thiem outmuscled Nadal by winning two tiebreakers in a row. With practically nothing separating the two men throughout the match, Thiem went one step closer to qualifying in the semifinals.
Both the heavyweights went toe-to-toe but a series of exceptional returns from the Austrian won him the match. Despite this being a straight-set victory, it took 2 hours 25 minutes for Thiem to labor past Nadal.
Tremendous Thiem takes the thunderous first set
The first set of the match was a treat for everyone watching. Both Thiem and Nadal played some beautiful tennis and took the set right down the wire. A proactive Rafa set the standards early on in the first set when he took the lead. However, Thiem didn’t let the Spaniard establish any sort of sizable lead in the match.
Thiem rolled with his momentum and was equalizing the score again and again. With the set being at 4-4, neither men were able to muster a considerable lead with both showing extraordinary persistence throughout the set. With one sensational exchange after another, both Thiem and Nadal looked formidable, deadlocking at 6-6 at 56 minutes, only for a tiebreaker to decide the winner of this sensational set.
This was a Deja vu moment for Thiem who won the First set tiebreaker in his opening match, but here he was sent to back foot by Rafa. The Spaniard played the tiebreaker with power and smartness, executing one excellent volley after another.
Thiem roared back into the tiebreaker coming back from 5-2 down to level things up 6-6. With the tiebreaker set at 7-7, both players were unable to find a way through each other. In the end, Thiem sneaked past Nadal to win the first set 6-7(7-9).
Thiem wins another tiebreaker!
With a razor-thin margin separating the two men at the end of the first set, Nadal and Thiem kept the intensity going in the second set. Thiem exquisitely executed his shots and took the early lead in this set.
However, in a repeat of the first set, Nadal came back to restore the parity and stay in the game. Rafa took his first lead of the set when he finally broke through Thiem’s defenses and led 4-3. Thiem quickly controlled the damage and overtook Nadal 5-4. With the match seemingly slipping away from his hands, Nadal swiftly came back into his element and with the help of some deft net play, he equalized the score 5-5.
Thiem did manage to win the next game but his inability to maintain his leads and Nadal’s mastery at coming back from behind plunged this set into a tiebreaker as well. The tiebreaker began with some sensational back-and-forth between the two. However, Thiem managed to hang in there and beat a fatigued Nadal 7-4 to win the set and the match.
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