Dominic Thiem is the first Austrian to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open since Thomas Muster. There, the Lichtenwörther will face defending champion Rafael Nadal for the eleventh time.
By Jens Huiber from New York City
A quarter-final between a right-hander and a left-hander with Austrian participation at the US Open? One plays the backhand classically, the other two-handed? There’s been that before. 1996, in fact. Even if the distribution of strokes and working hands does not exactly correspond to the duel between Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem.
But 22 years ago Thomas Muster went on a night session against Andre Agassi in the still grandiose, old Louis Armstrong Stadium. It was the arrogance of the USTA that this duel should have taken place one round later: Contrary to the world rankings, she had not placed Muster in second place – but one position behind her. The preference was given to Michael Chang, who reached the final.
Dominic Thiem, to speak to Philipp Oswald, will be quite powidl. And on the other hand, perhaps not known at all. Whereby: After its success against Kevin Anderson, Austria’s number one once again proved to be a great tennis historian, was able to answer the question about its first Nadal memory like a shot in the arm: French Open, semi-final 2005 against Roger Federer.
In Paris, Thiem has outgrown the semi-final stage since this year, while a quarter-final in New York means new territory for the Lower Austrian. In 2018 the USTA did not afford a settlement faux pas for the men, the quarter into which Thiem was drawn he probably hadn’t wished for.
But: Dominic Thiem has grown to the task of Kevin Anderson. In the now new Louis Armstrong. Thiem won’t be back there until next year at the earliest, of course the quarter finals will be held in the biggest stadium, Arthur Ashe. The experience of Thiem, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Monday, at Ashe consists of 14 games: in 2016 he had to give up against Juan Martin del Potro because of knee problems in the second set.
Nadal, on the other hand, knows all the other courts in the National Tennis Center only from hearsay. The defending champion naturally only competes in the world’s largest tennis stadium, usually in front of full ranks.
According to general observation, Nadal had a hard time against Karen Khachanov, but according to Dominic Thiem’s special assessment, the Spaniard’s success was never in question. The world number one only lost three games in 2018: by surrendering to Marin Cilic at the Australian Open, to Novak Djokovic under strange and memorable circumstances in Wimbledon. And just against Dominic Thiem in Madrid.
Thiem also owed this Madrid feeling to the construction of the stadium in the match against Anderson. Actually, it’s like playing in a hall, says Thiem. The same applies to the Arthur Ashe stage, albeit in a different dimension. The special conditions in the Spanish capital are of course also due to Madrid’s altitude. New York City can’t help with that.
According to general opinion, Nadal will start the race as the favourite. But one thing will not happen to Thiem: That he will tackle his first quarter-final at the US Open as passively as the first match with Nadal in Monte Carlo in 2018. The lecture of his protégé in the principality had also left head coach Günter Bresnik somewhat angry, at the US Open is attack announced.
There is still no mutual experience on hard court, it is guaranteed that Rafael Nadal also has very competent tennis to offer on this court.
But, if you’re looking for good omens: In 1996, the right-hander finally won the quarter-finals with Austrian participation. Andre Agassi defeated Thomas Muster in four sets.
Here are the games between Dominic Thiem and Rafael Nadal so far