US Open 2020: Thiem jests to call up Andy Murray for advice if he loses finals

Second seed Dominic Thiem crashed last year’s Daniil Medvedev bagging a 6-2 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-5) victory over US Open 2019 runner up on Friday, advancing to the tournament finals. With just a step behind his first Grand Slam title, the Austrian jested that if he loses a fourth grand slam after reaching the finals, he will have to call former world number one Andy Murray.

Thiem has been squashed in all the previous three slam finals he has played- the 2020 Australian Open finals to World No. 1, Novak Djokovic and the 2018 and 2019 French Open deciders against Rafael Nadal. Murray meanwhile had been toppled in four major finals before he broke through for his first slam in the 2012 US Open.

Thiem on his joke and upcoming face-off with Zverev

Post his semis’ win, the Austrian joked on court, “If I win, I have my first [grand slam title]. If not, I have to slowly call Andy Murray to find out how it is with 0-4.”

On his reply to the reporters on whether he had ever spoken to Murray on overcoming the slam final vanquishes, Thiem said, “I never talked to anyone. It was all good so far. But I was joking about it. It’s easy for Andy because he has won three in the meantime. But that’s not what I’m thinking about Sunday. I’m just going to go in fully focused, like in all the six previous matches. The world continues no matter what’s result is, so it’s going to be fine.”

“Of course, I’m super happy that I gave myself another chance to be in the finals, pretty quick after Australia. Going to be a great one against a very good friend and a great rival,” he added.

Awaiting his finals’ face-off against fifth seed Alexander Zverev, remarks that he “won’t change his mindset at all”.

“I know what Sascha is capable of. Also the last match we had in Australia, we were both really, really good. It was such a close match. I will go in like in the previous six matches. As I said, from the moment Novak was out of the tournament [default in the fourth round], it was clear that there’s going to be a new grand slam champion. From that moment on, that was also out of my mind. I was just focusing on the remaining guys left in the draw. Now it’s Sascha remaining, the last one, my opponent in the finals. I will fully focus on him and just go into that match like in the all other matches I was going in so far in this tournament.” He added.

He went on to say, “He’s a hell of a player. One of the greatest ones in last years. Won all titles besides a major. He will also try everything what he’s capable of doing to win the title. It’s going to be a super difficult match. For me, it really doesn’t matter whether it’s him or one of the big three. I just try to go in there and give my best.”

Also read: US Open 2020: Thiem battles off Medvedev to face Zverev in final