Tennis

Dominic Thiem v Alexander Zverev: Australian Open 2020 semi-final – live!


9.05am GMT

It is raining in Melbourne! The Rod Laver Arena roof is closing.

9.03am GMT

First set: Dominic Thiem 2-1* Alexander Zverev: We have our first hold. A much better service game from Thiem, who slammed down an unreturned first serve followed by a serve-forehand 1-2 punch to edge ahead 30-15. Then he crushed a vicious 148kmh forehand down-the-line winner for 40-15. On the second game point, Zverev dumped a limp backhand drop shot into the net.

In these early stages, it is already clear that Thiem is on the front foot and controlling these rallies. We will see how much Zverev can impose himself as the match progresses.

8.57am GMT

First set: Dominic Thiem *1-1 Alexander Zverev: Some of these rallies are already long and bruising, with Zverev content to stand behind the baseline and see how many errors he can grind out of Thiem early on. However, the Austrian was much more patient here and he brilliantly worked his way through a long 24 stroke rally, ending with a forehand forced error from Zverev. On his second break point, Thiem chased down a Zverev volley and forced an error from the German at the net. That break did not last very long.

8.52am GMT

First set: Dominic Thiem 0-1* Alexander Zverev: The youngster immediately takes the first step, breaking Thiem’s serve in his opening service game. In truth, just a messy game from Thiem as he opened with three straight unforced errors to fall down 0-40. He rescued the first break point with a solid serve and then Zverev dumped a forehand into the net on the second. However, on the third break point, Zverev remained consistent until the Austrian sprayed a backhand error wide. First blood to Zverev.

8.47am GMT

Here we go. The players are on-court and ready to begin. Dominic Thiem to serve first.

8.44am GMT

Alexander Zverev on the spotlight and criticism that has already accompanied his young career:

I don’t think about it. But what I am happy about is that everybody all of asudden at the ATP Cup or last year had opinions that I need a new coach or I need a change in my team or I need to get a new physical trainer, new physio, whatever. I was struggling with myself. My tennis was struggling because of me, not because of the work that everybody else was doing. I am happy to show that I can still play good tennis with the team around me, with my father around, with Jez around, with Hugo around.

I have to prove a point to somebody? Do you have to prove a point to anybody in this world? Maybe to your parents, out of respect or something like that. But anybody else, this is your life. You do with it what you feel is right.

8.40am GMT

Here is Dominic Thiem on his good friend Sascha Zverev after his great win over Rafael Nadal:

We know each other. For me, it’s funny because it’s first time in a Grand Slam semifinals I face a younger guy. We’re good friends. I’m happy for him, as well, that he’s playing so good here. He made his breakthrough at a Grand Slam. We have no secrets from each other. I mean, we played so many times, also on very special occasions already, at the ATP Finals, semis, French Open quarters. It’s a nice rivalry we have. It’s great that we add an Australian Open semifinals to this one. Going to be a close match again. Same if two top-10 players play each other semis of a slam. The deciding moments are very small, small margins. I’m looking forward to it. I try to regenerate as good as possible and then try to be ready 100% for Friday

8.37am GMT

Dominic Thiem started his Australian Open with some of the most bizarre tournament news in recent years. After his third round match, just two weeks into their partnership, Thiem decided to fire his new secondary coach Thomas Muster. Muster also happens to be the tennis legend in Austria, a former French Open champion and the greatest Austrian player of the Open Era. He was not happy.

Clearly, bad decisions were made in the first place if such drastic actions were necessary so soon into their partnership. However, it reflects Thiem’s off-court transformation as he has grown into a man and taken control over his career. After being coached by Günter Bresnik from the age of nine, last year Thiem completely severed ties with Bresnik and hired Nicolas Massu as coach.

8.22am GMT

Alexander Zverev rarely goes a day without reminding people that he was the first to break through and everyone else followed, and for good reason. Three years ago, while the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev and Matteo Berrettini were either barely inside the top 100, if at all, Zverev made his first breakthrough by defeating Novak Djokovic at the Italian Open in Rome to win his first ever Masters 1000 title at the precocious age of 20. Zverev had grown up tipped for greatness for a long time – he would follow his brother Mischa Zverev, who peaked at No. 25 and is 9 years his senior, around the tour and share the court with many of the best players in the world as a child.

However, Zverev’s rapid progress up the rankings finally hit a speed bump last year as he struggled with off-court issues stemming from a legal dispute with his agent and other personal issues. All the while, he struggled to translate success at the ATP events constantly failed to translate to the slams as he only reached his first slam quarter final in 2018.

4.27pm GMT

Hello! Welcome to our coverage of the second Australian Open men’s semi-final as we barrel towards the end of another hectic tournament.

After a packed day of two women’s and one men’s semi-final, today brings just one men’s singles semifinal in the night. It is strange scheduling to say the least, but perhaps it is apt that this one will take centre stage as Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev face off for a place in the Australian Open final.

Continue reading…



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