US Open 2020 Men's Final Highlights: Dominic Thiem beat Alexander Zverev in the final. (Source: USA Today)US Open 2020 Men’s Final Highlights: Dominic Thiem became Austria’s second Grand Slam singles champion as he defeated Alexander Zverev 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(6) in the US Open final on Sunday.
After losing three finals on the trot, the 27-year-old became the youngest Grand Slam champion and first maiden Grand Slam champion since Marin Cilic in 2014. He also became the first player to win the US Open title from two sets down since Pancho Gonzales in 1949.
Into tiebreak, Zverev takes an early two point lead. Thiem fights back to win one and then another. 2-2. That soon becomes 3-3, as there's almost nothing to differentiate the players with. Thiem makes it 4-3 with a 132 mph serve. Zverev makes a double fault but Thiem's overcooked forehand keeps the score at 5-4. A forehand from Thiem sets him up for the championship point. He serves, engages in a rally... and he hits the net. Then he commits another unforced error. 6-6. Thiem makes it 7-6 for himself with a powerful forehand and he again serves for the championship, and he does it! Finally! The Austrian wins his first-ever Grand Slam!
Thiem serves for the championship and he starts by giving away a point to Zverev. The German makes it 0-30 with a humongous smash. Thiem introduces his drop shot to make it 15-30, but an overhit forehand makes it 15-40. Although Thiem takes a point, Zverev doesn't let up and breaks his opponent again to keep his title hopes alive! What a match this has been so far!
Thiem makes it 0-15, but mixes in an unforced error off the backhand deep into a rally for 15-all. He pushes it to 30-all, then stakes a massive break-point chance at 30-40 when Zverev makes another unforced error. An 18-stroke baseline rally ensues ... and Thiem gets the break when Zverev overcooks a forehand! Thiem has won three games on the trot and will serve for the title now!
Thiem wins the first point but then he fails follows it up with a meaningful shot as his return hits the net. 15-15. Zverev maintain himself on the baseline and comes out on the good end of a rally as Thiem overhits a shot. And The Austrian cruises on from there, not crumbling under pressure as he wins three straight points to equal the score in the final set. Zverev has to wait.
Zverev starts shakily gifting Thiem two points but he gains one back to make it 15-30. Thiem is on attention now and his forehand return makes it 15-40. Zverev gets one back with a brilliant serve but it proves to be futile as Thiem breaks! Tension.
Zverev has hunger in his eyes now after holding his serve in the last game. He keeps on fighting for every point, making it 15-15, and then 30-30. Thanks to a Thiem error, he finally breaks the Austrian and now he will be serving for the championship!
Zverev made good use of his fighting spirit to race to 0-30 in hopes of getting his second break of the set. But Thiem bounces back with four straight points with some majestic forehand winners there. A very tight affair in New York right now.
After Zverev held his serve in the previous game, Thiem serves in the hope of returning the favour. His forehands assist him in this quest as he quickly races to 30-0. He wins the next point, Zverev the next but Thiem ultimately holds. The tension's just rising here.
Thiem opens his serve with a point, but Zverev puts up a brilliant fight. He makes it 40-30, and from there he repays in kind. The German breaks Thiem after the Austrian commits an unforced error. What a competitive final we are having here!
Thiem starts the last set on a strong note. A couple of unforced errors from Zverev hands the Austrian the first game.
What a turnaround! Thiem holds for love as he channels his A-game from within. Zverev has completely lost his ground.
Zverev starts well with a confident point, but Thiem keeps him in check from there on. Replying in kind after each point lost, Thiem keeps up the momentum and makes it deuce. From there, helped by Zverev's unforced errors, he breaks in the fourth set.
Thiem is utlising his second wind to the fullest! Zverev wins the first point, but Thiem goes in turbo mode and wins each of the three points by bringing all of his guns to play. Cross court runs, terrific forehands and his trademark one-handed backhand. But he falters soon after as Zverev luckily finds himself at deuce. The German fights back from there to hold his serve.
No one's the wiser here so far in the fourth set as it has been quite a cagey affair. Zverev with two games, Thiem with three -- with the latest being sealed by holding to love. But, the Austrian is clearly in the driving seat of the final.
Thiem starts the fourth set brilliantly as he keeps up his pace to hold for love. Maybe it's not too late. Zverev on the backfoot now.
Zverev starts well with a quick point, but he loses the plot from there. He fails to stay in the set as he double faults, hits the net twice on the return, and then miscalculates a forehand which drops way outside the court. Thiem breaks and wins the third set!