ATP Finals: 10:12 in tie-break! Thiem loses prelude against Anderson

Dominic Thiem lost his opening match at the ATP Finals in London. The Austrian defeated Kevin Anderson from South Africa in two sets.

By Jens Huiber from London

Maybe Sebastian Baez should have been asked. The Argentinian junior had warmed up both Dominic Thiem and Kevin Anderson on Sunday morning, a few hours before the two opened their singles competition in London’s O2 Arena with their match.

Betting would have been on Anderson. The fourth-placed South African won 6-3, 7-6 (10) after a 1-48-hour campaign and will face the winner of the match between Roger Federer and Kei Nishikori on Tuesday. Thiem plays against the loser of this match.

The Lichtenwörther had announced to adapt his return position to the requirements of Anderson in the course of the game. In Madrid and New York City this had worked excellently this year, Thiem wrote to the former college player for the first time. However, Anderson had explained in advance that some matches had already been scarce in the past, for example in Washington.

Anderson won the election, decided to serve. So no scanning, the London debutant knows where his strengths lie. And Anderson was always on the lookout for the initiative in his own service right from the start and also followed the balls if necessary. Thiem, on the other hand, already had problems in the fourth game, had to give up his serve after defending a break ball to 1:3.

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Thiem had to risk a lot, fending off three chances for Anderson’s next break at 1:5.

However, the 25-year-old did not find a remedy as a backfighter, although he exploited the entire depth of the court in the O2 Arena. After 41 minutes, a forehand from Thiem landed in the net, 3:6 from the point of view of the Lower Austrian.

In the second run, Thiem continued to orientate himself forward – at the return, but also in his entire game. In the fourth and sixth game there would have been smaller possibilities at Anderson’s serve, but he also proved his stamina in longer rallies. Thiem was better in the match, but there was no breakchance even during passage two. Not for Kevin Anderson, though.

Tiebreak after exactly 90 minutes playing time.

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Thiem set the first needlestick, took the mini-break to 2-1, Anderson came back to 2-3. A forehand mistake by Thiem saw the Austrian 4-5 in Rückstad, Thiem took the mini-break back immediately. Nevertheless: Anderson organized his first match point with his own serve, but he had a forehand return into the net. Thiem picked up the pace, playing his first chance to win the set after a splendid rally. Anderson equalled, Thiem gave a setback, second match point. The Austrian fended him off.

And also the third at the score of 9:10, this time with an ace. But Anderson now unpacked an incredible forehand longline ball, fourth match point. And the South African transformed him with his 13th ace.