Thiem breaks through for maiden grand slam in comeback win over Zverev
New York: Austrian second seed Dominic Thiem has become the first man in 71 years to win the US Open after dropping the first two sets of the final.
Germany's Alexander Zverev flew out of the blocks and was just six points away from a straight sets victory but was unable to close his first grand slam final out, ultimately falling to the world No.3 in a final-set tie-breaker 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).
The US Open had never before been decided by a fifth-set tie-breaker.
Pancho Gonzalez delivered a similar turnaround against Ted Schroeder in 1949 to win the event then known as the US Championships.
Stan Wawrinka's triumph at Flushing Meadows in four years ago was the last time a man outside of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic tasted success in a major.
An exhausted Dominic Thiem after winning his first grand slam title.Credit:AP
That win, Wawrinka's third in a grand slam, came just months after Andy Murray's second Wimbledon title.
Since then, Federer has won three majors while Nadal and Djokovic have won five each.
Thiem was quick to pay tribute to a longtime opponent and friend.
"I wish we could have two winners today," he said.
"I think we both deserved this. You're going to make it, 100 per cent. You're going to make your family proud. I love it when you're around, you're great and you'll definitely bring it home one day."
Thiem also thanked the tournament organisers for staging a major championship under unprecedented pressures.
"To the USTA and to everybody who did such an awesome job, I think all the players felt super safe in the bubble," he said.
"In this difficult time it was such a great job. I think you and we all deserve hopefully plenty more normal US Opens with full crowds again."
AP