Dominic Thiem celebrates successful his quarter-final match towards John Isner. (Reuters Picture)
MADRID: Dominic Thiem got here from a set all the way down to beat John Isner and attain the semi-finals of the Madrid Open on Friday.
The Austrian might face 13-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal within the final 4 after recovering towards Isner to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Nadal performs fifth seed Alexander Zverev in his quarter-final in a while Friday.
A showdown between Thiem and Nadal could be a repeat of the 2018 and 2019 French Open finals, each of which had been received by Nadal.
Zverev, in the meantime, was on the dropping facet within the ultimate when Thiem clinched his first grand slam title eventually 12 months’s US Open, when he beat the German in 5 units.
The world quantity 4 will probably be considered one of Nadal’s fiercest challengers at Roland Garros subsequent month and if he meets the Spaniard in Madrid, it is going to be taken as an early gauge of his credentials.
After twice ending as runner-up in Madrid, Thiem will probably be hoping to go one step additional this 12 months however he’s within the harder half of the draw.
Within the different quarter-finals, the unseeded pair of Alexander Bublik and Casper Ruud will face off to fulfill both eighth seed Matteo Berrettini or 16th seed Cristian Garin within the semis.
The 36-year-old Isner has by no means been at his most comfy on clay however he caught Thiem chilly on the Caja Magica by breaking early to assert the opening set.
However Thiem ripped a forehand move to open up a break opporunity at 3-2 within the second, which he took when Isner hit the online with a volley.
Thiem was studying Isner’s serve higher by the point the match went to a decider however it was not till 4-Four that he struck once more, when he chased down three Isner volleys to serve for victory.
He closed out, a forehand volley securing victory in just below two hours.
“He is the most effective servers in historical past, particularly right here within the altitude, it bounces excessive and it is so troublesome to return,” mentioned Thiem afterwards.
“To start out with a break down is sort of like dropping the primary set however I stayed centered, stored a great fifghting spirit. Only a few factors determine that form of sport and that is how I turned issues round within the second set.”
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