Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev will meet for the sixth time in the final of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid. In the internal balance the Austrian is ahead with 4:1 victories.
At the beginning of the week, the two buddies at MTTC Iphitos still trained together – with a cap. Whether the temperatures that prevail in Munich at the end of April is not a bad idea. In the semi-finals, however, things got quite heated. At the beginning of the second set, Zverev briefly lost his composure due to the referee’s alleged wrong decision, Thiem became stronger and stronger and entered the final. Where he lost to Philipp Kohlschreiber in the tie-break of the third set.
Dominic Thiem had travelled to the Cote d´Azur as defending champion, used the last week before the French Open again for intensive match training. Alexander Zverev in turn mutated into a home sleeper in nearby Monte Carlo, but completed one marathon after the other during his work phases in Nice. In the final, the German had a nosebleed at the beginning of the third set, Thiem played the game home confidently.
The joint outfitter had given Zverev and Thiem the almost legendary zebra outfit, Zverev got off to a better start on the Suzanne Lenglen court. Thiem discovered the slice in the middle of the second set, however, was the more powerful, better player as the match continued – who was only to lose to Novak Djokovic (on the same court) in the semi-finals.
Alexander Zverev had started the Asian Swing with his first tournament victory on the ATP Tour, the final victory against Stan Wawrinka in St. Petersburg had given the German additional self-confidence. Thiem, on the other hand, ended the second half of the season on the last foot. After winning the first set, the Austrian had no chance.
The last match so far of the two final opponents of Madrid – under conditions that had actually come rather Zverev convenient: Hall, relatively fast surface. In the end, however, Thiem was once again ahead. Which led Zverev to say that this would have been the worst match of his career.