Updates: Thiem Takes Lead Against Zverev In London SF
Dominic Thiem twice got himself out of trouble in the opening set, and is now just one set away from reaching his first Nitto ATP Finals title match.
The fifth seed erased two break points in the opener and survived a first-serve onslaught from German Alexander Zverev to win the opening set 7-5.
Zverev was cruising on serve, landing more than 85 per cent of his first-serve points and winning nearly three-quarters of those points. But in the 12th game, nerves kicked in and the German sprayed a forehand wide to give Thiem two set points at 15/40.
Zverev erased the first when Thiem netted a forehand, but, as the crowd shouted "Do-mi-nic!", the defending champion Zverev donated his third double fault (79 mph) to give Thiem the set.
Thiem landed only half of his first serves but defended his second serve well (60%, 12/20) and erased break points in the third and fifth games.
Zverev is looking to return to the Nitto ATP Finals title match after beating Novak Djokovic for the 2018 title. Thiem is playing in his first Nitto ATP Finals semi-final after failing to advance past the group stage during his first three appearances.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/32ULePE
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