Thiem, Zverev in US Open final
New York, Sept. 12: Dominic Thiem of Austria will play Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the US Open final for their first Grand Slam titles after they won their last-four matches in contrasting styles on Friday.
Second seed Thiem ousted third-seeded Russian and last year’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev in a closely fought three-setter that was packed with powerful baseline rallies and impressive serving.
The 27-year-old Thiem won 6-2, 7-6 (9/7) 7-6 (7/5) in 2hr 56 min inside Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach his fourth Grand Slam final.
Earlier, Zverev came from two sets down to complete a remarkable comeback against 20thseeded Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta and reach his first tennis major final.
The 23-year-old German won an error-strewn, scrappy encounter 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in 3hr 23min.
It marked the first time
in Zverev’s career that he came from two sets behind to win.
“I actually looked at the scoreboard when I was
down two sets to love,” Zverev said.
“I was like, ‘I can’t believe it. I’m playing in a semi-final, I’m supposed to be the favourite and I have no chance, I’m playing that bad.”
Zverev made 36 unforced errors in the first two sets compared to just 12 for Carreno Busta as the nerves of the occasion seemed to get the better of him.
FIRST-TIME DUO TAKE DOUBLES CROWN
First-time doubles duo Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva won the women’s doubles title, defeating China’s Xu Yifan and Nicole Melichar of the United States in straight sets in the final.
Germany’s Siegemund and Russian partner Zvonareva had never played doubles together before this year’s US Open.
However, the unseeded pairing romped past the third-seeded Xu and Melichar 6-4, 6-4 to cap a fairytale victory.