ATP: Dominic Thiem fights his way into the semi-finals of St. Petersburg

Dominic Thiem has reached the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour 250 tournament in St. Petersburg after a three-set victory over Daniil Medvedev. There the Austrian number one will meet Roberto Bautista Agut.

Dominic Thiem competes for the second time in St. Petersburg – and for the second time the Lower Austrian is in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour 250 tournament. Thiem defeated local hero Daniil Medvedev 6:2, 3:6 and 7:6 (2) after a hard fight.

Thiem, who is only accompanied by his buddy Lucas Leitner in St. Petersburg, took away Medvedev’s first service game, missed chances for another break in the fifth game, then took it for 5:2. 31 minutes later, the 25-year-old Lichtenwörther served safely.

Thiem and Medvedev have never met on the ATP tour before, Thiem remembered after his opening victory against Jan-Lennard Struff that the two might have met at a very young age.

The Austrian varied well from the start, taking the pace from the shots of the last Russian remaining in the tableau again and again, especially with the backhand slice. In the first game of the second set Medvedev could fend off three break chances, with a score of 1:1 the next.

The Russian proved to be much more efficient, took advantage of his first chance in the sixth game to score 4-2, Medvedev did not allow anything more with his own service and equalled the sets after 70 minutes.

In the decision Medvedev gave his opponent three break chances with his twelfth double mistake at 2:3, Thiem used the second. And immediately gave the advantage away. In the twelfth game Thiem played his first match point, Medvedev fended off with an ace. In the tiebreak, Thiem took the lead with a mini-break 2:1 and then only lost one point. And left the field as the winner after 2:07 hours.

Dominic Thiem will meet Roberto Bautista Agut in the semi-finals on Saturday. Thiem has played the Spaniard three times – and lost just as often. However, all these matches took place in 2015.

Here the single tableau in St. Petersburg