Dominic Thiem beats Rafael Nadal to qualify for ATP Finals semi-finals after thrilling straight-sets win

Dominic Thiem defeated Rafael Nadal 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-4) in two hours and 15 minutes at the O2 Arena in London to book his place into the ATP Finals semi-finals.

Nadal, in search of the only major title he has yet to win, failed to convert two set points in the opening set tie-break and eventually succumbed to an outstanding inside-out forehand winner from the Austrian to lose the first set in 72 minutes.

Thiem was broken in the seventh game of the second set but last year’s runners up was able to bounce straight back and break the Spaniard at the second time of trying in the eighth game.

The world No 3 spurned three match points at 5-4 in the second set with Nadal rallying to win five consecutive points and producing a wonderful ‘tweener’ lob to draw the set level once again.

The match was resolved in another tie-break, the fifth between the pair in their last six sets, with Thiem having won all of them.

The high-quality battle ended with a wayward unforced backhand error from Nadal meaning that the Austrian tops the group after two matches, having defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in his opening game on Sunday.

This is the first time Thiem has won consecutive matches against the French Open champion having defeated him  in the quarter finals of the Australian Open. 

Post-match, the Austrian was delighted with his performance, proclaiming: ‘I think it was a great match from the first to the last point, indoors and [on] hard courts, it was probably one of the better matches I have ever played.

‘It came very close to last year’s match against Novak here, which is probably the best three-setter I have ever played. Today came very close to that match and now the goal is to enjoy this victory and to maintain that level until Thursday.”

Thiem will face Andrey Rublev, who is yet to win at the ATP Finals this year, on Thursday. However, Rublev has won their last two meetings – most recently in Vienna last month.

Meanwhile, Nadal will face last year’s championTsitsipas in the decisive match in the group. 

Nadal was the only player to defeat the Greek in last year’s finals, despite the world No 6 going on to win the tournament.

Both players have a record of 1-1 at this year’s showpiece and the winner will qualify for the semi-finals on Saturday.

By Saj Rahman