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Dominic Thiem and Stan Wawrinka didn’t play for six and a half years getting into their conflict Monday night on the Rolex Paris Masters, however the return of their Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry proved nicely well worth the wait.
Thiem saved a match level at 3-5 within the third set earlier than rallying previous his fellow former World No. 3 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 for a spot within the second spherical. The tantalising encounter between two of the most effective one-handed backhands in current reminiscence in the end ended after two hours and 31 minutes at 2:22 a.m. Tuesday morning.
“It is very good to share an excellent and shut match like that with Stan as a result of we now have a historical past collectively of many nice matches,” Thiem mentioned. “Clearly he is one among my large idols backhand smart.”
What a end 🤩
After saving a match level, @domithiem edges previous Wawrinka 3-6 6-3 7-5.@RolexPMasters | #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/aGn92D8Gsa
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 31, 2023
Whereas Thiem hit highlight-reel photographs all through the match, particularly with jaw-dropping passing photographs, it was Wawrinka who was first on the verge of victory. The Swiss held match level at 5-3, 40/30 within the decider, however double-faulted lengthy. It was one among six double faults he hit within the match.
Thiem took full benefit of the small opening, getting again on serve when Wawrinka missed a forehand lengthy. In what changed into a battle of wills, the Austrian broke once more in his subsequent return sport and didn’t let slip his alternative to shut out the match.
When Wawrinka missed a last forehand return lengthy, Thiem held his arms out in celebration and took a deep breath, an indication of how a lot the second meant. The victory was his first at a hard-court ATP Masters 1000 occasion for the reason that 2019 Rolex Paris Masters.
“The final two years I’ve misplaced extra shut matches than I’ve gained, so this one could be very, essential for me. The tennis has been getting higher since Vienna. I beat two nice guys within the qualies and now Stan in a match after saving match level, so it provides me an enormous increase.”
The No. 108 participant within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, who is continuous his pursuit of high kind after struggling a wrist damage in June 2021, will subsequent play defending champion Holger Rune. The pair met earlier this 12 months in Monte-Carlo, the place the Dane prevailed in straight units.
Did You Know?
Thiem saved 10 of the 13 break factors he confronted and transformed 4 of his 5 break probabilities on Wawrinka’s serve.
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