- Thiem wins 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 to capture first major title
- Austrian becomes youngest men’s major champion since 2009
That’s all from a US Open like no other. Be sure to read Kevin Mitchell’s full match report and thanks as always for following along with us.
Related: Dominic Thiem wins US Open final on tiebreak against Alexander Zverev after five-set thriller
“We started to know each other back in 2014 and developed straight away a great friendship, and 2016 our great rivalry started,” Thiem says. “We made great things happen on the court and off the court. I wish we could have two winners today. We both deserved it. You’re going to make it, 100%, make your parents proud.”
Thiem becomes the first player to come from two sets down in the championship match at the US Open since 1949, back when it was known as the US Championships, when Richard “Pancho” Gonzales won 16-18, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 over American countryman Fred Schroeder Jr.
“I wish we could have two winners today.”
All the feels right now @ThiemDomi I #USOpen pic.twitter.com/gCAbMGwzH8
“I wish you would have missed a little bit more, so I could have been holding that trophy up,” an emotional Zverev says during the trophy presentation. “But here I am giving the runner-up speech.”
He continues: “I obviously want to thank my team for sticking with me. The last two years haven’t been easy in my tennis career. We’re definitely on the way up and one day we are going to lift that trophy up together.”
Nothing but class from @AlexZverev after an incredible match pic.twitter.com/U8X3W2gP2n
Today’s match was only the fifth comeback win from two sets down in a major final in the Open era (since 1969). Thiem becomes the first player do it away from Roland Garros. The updated list:
Fifth-set tiebreaker: Zverev 6-8 Thiem
Zverev holds his opening service point, then goes up a quick minibreak with a backhand passing winner on Thiem’s serve for 2-love. Thiem holds the next point, but then Zverev gives the minibreak back with his 14th double fault of the match for 2-all. They hold their next two service points and it’s 3-all at the change of ends.
Zverev breaks in 12th game of fifth set!
Fifth set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-6 Thiem
Thiem breaks in 11th game of fifth set!
Fifth set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 5-6 Thiem*
Fifth set: *Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 5-5 Thiem
Thiem serving to stay in the tournament. He wins the first point at the end of a grueling 17-stroke rally, but mixes in his 49th and 50th unforced errors to go down 15-30. Zverev is two points from the finish line. But Thiem digs in, following a 109mph unreturnable serve with a forehand winner from the baseline and a volley winner to hold. Brilliant stuff on both sides.
Thiem breaks in ninth game of fifth set!
Fifth set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 5-4 Thiem*
Zverev breaks in eighth game of fifth set!
Fifth set: *Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 5-3 Thiem
Fifth set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 4-3 Thiem*
A tidy hold for Zverev, who is serving 78% in this fifth set after slipping to 52% in the fourth.
Fifth set: *Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 3-3 Thiem
Thiem opens with a double fault and his 43rd unforced error to go down love-30 on his seerve. But he digs in for three quick points (including a spectacular forehand winner down the line for 15-30) followed by a 113mph ace out wide to escape with the hold.
A big shot and even bigger hold for Dominic Thiem pic.twitter.com/867UsHFYeh
Fifth set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 3-2 Thiem*
Zverev breezes through a service game sandwiched by his 14th and 15th aces. On serve in the decider.
Fifth set: *Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 2-2 Thiem
Thiem holds comfortably to stay on serve. He is attempting to complete only the fifth comeback from two sets down in a major final in the Open era. The other four all took place at the French Open:
Fifth set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 2-1 Thiem*
Thiem wins the first point on Zverev’s serve, but follows with a forehand volley winner at the end of a spectacular 25-shot rally for 15-all. They’re finally both playing well at the same time and the level has risen to the caliber of a grand slam final. Zverev goes down 15-30 after another unforced error, but answers with a 131mph ace down the middle for 30-all. Zverev holds from there and we’re on serve.
Intensity turned pic.twitter.com/A2WVzIHYzH
Zverev breaks in second game of fifth set!
Fifth set: *Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 1-1 Thiem
Thiem breaks in first game of fifth set!
Fifth set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 0-1 Thiem*
Fourth set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6 Thiem
Thiem breezes to a love hold and he’s leveled the match from two sets down. We’re headed to a decider!
Thiem breaks in eighth game of fourth set!
Fourth set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-5 Thiem*
Fourth set: *Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-4 Thiem
Thiem holds from love-15 down, closing it out witth a 104mph ace to keep the scoreboard pressure on Zverev. The first serve has regressed a bit in the fourth: he’s getting only 44% of them in after improving to 74% in the third.
Fourth set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-3 Thiem*
Zverev opens with a forehand winner, but Thiem rattles off three points (including a forehand passing winner at the end of a highlight-reel 18-shot rally) to earn a pair of break-point chances. A big chance for Thiem. But Zverev saves them both, then holds easily from there.
Fourth set: *Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 2-3 Thiem
Another economical love hold for Thiem, who’s won 12 of 13 points on his serve in this set.
Fourth set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 2-2 Thiem*
Zverev flies through another service game, hittting three unreturnable serves and a forehand volley winner.
Fourth set: *Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 1-2 Thiem
Thiem rolls to an uneventful hold from love-15 down.
Fourth set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 1-1 Thiem*
A stress-free hold for Zverev, who cracks a pair of 130mph aces down the middle along the way.
Fourth set: *Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 0-1 Thiem
Thiem holds at love to open the fourth. He improved his first-serve rate to 74% in the third set from 68% in the second and 37% in the first.
Thiem breaks in 10th game of third set!
Third set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-6 Thiem
Into. The. 4th.@ThiemDomi | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/gkMxspLhZl
Third set: *Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-5 Thiem
Thiem is pushed to deuce but holds from there. Zverev, who chipped in his eighth and ninth unforced errors along the way, will serve to stay in the set after the changeover.
Third set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 4-4 Thiem*
Zverev opens with two aces and a forehand winner and races out to 40-15. Thiem pushes it to deuce thanks to a Zverev double fault and a swinging volley winner, but Zverev holds from there.
Third set: *Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 3-4 Thiem
An urgent moment for Thiem as the unforced errors continue to creep back into the Austrian’s game. He quickly goes down love-30 on his serve. Thiem rattles off three quick points but sprays another forehand for deuce. He’s able to hold from there, however, putting the scoreboard pressure back on Zverev. Thiem has now hit 19 winners against 32 unforced errors, compared to 31 winners and 25 miscues for Zverev.
Third set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 3-3 Thiem*
Zverev opens with a 133mph ace down the middle followed by a forehand winner that paints the line for 30-love. Thiem wins the next point when Zverev makes an unforced error but he holds comfortably from there.
Third set: *Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 2-3 Thiem
Thiem, so shaky on serve all day, needed a straightforward hold to consolidate the break and that’s just what he conjures, holding at love.
Third set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 2-2 Thiem*
Thiem pushes it to 30-all on Zverev’s serve, then Zverev makes a seventh double fault ot give Thiem an immediate chance to break back. Zverev saves it, but makes an unforced backhand error on the next point to give Thiem a second look at a break. Zverev saves that one, then a third before finally breaking through on the fourth. We’re back on serve in the third.
Zverev breaks in third game of third set!
Third set: *Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 2-1 Thiem
Third set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 1-1 Thiem*
Zverev blitzes to yet another economical love hold, closing it out with a 114mph ace down the pipe.
Third set: *Zverev 6-2, 6-4, 0-1 Thiem
Thiem is pushed to 30-all on his serve but holds comfortably from there.
Second set: Zverev 6-2, 6-4 Thiem
Zverev opens with his sixth double fault of the afternoon. Could the nerves be creeping in? He rattles off two quick points before spraying a backhand wide for 30-all. A big chance for Thiem here. But Zverev slams the door shut, pounding a forehand winner for set point then following with a forehand early in the rally that Thiem can’t get back over the net. The German has staked a commanding two-sets-to-none lead and is one set from becoming the youngest men’s grand slam champion since Juan Martin del Porto won the 2009 US Open title aged 20.
BIG hold for Sascha Zverev, who is one set away.@AlexZverev | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/3TChKtkLys
Second set: *Zverev 6-2, 5-4 Thiem
Thiem breezes through his first straightforward service game since the very start of the match, going 110mph unreturnable, backhand winner at the net, 132mph ace down the middle, forehand passing winner to hold at love. Zverev will have a second chance to serve out the set after the change of ends.
Thiem breaks in eighth game of second set!
Second set: Zverev 6-2, 5-3 Thiem*
Second set: *Zverev 6-2, 5-2 Thiem
Thiem falls behind love-30 and Zverev is two points from a commanding two-sets-to-none lead. Thiem serves his way of immediate danger with a 121mph ace followed by a 93mph second serve that Zverev dumps into the net for 30-all. Yet another netted forehand by Thiem gives Zverev a set point. The Austrain saves it when Zverev misfires with a forehand, then saves a second and third with a couple of big serves. Finally, Thiem escapes with the hold and Zverev will look to serve out the set.
Second set: Zverev 6-2, 5-1 Thiem*
Another business-like hold for Zverev, who closes it out with a forehand winner, his 19th overall against 11 unforced errors.
Zverev breaks in fifth game of second set!
Second set: *Zverev 6-2, 4-1 Thiem
Second set: Zverev 6-2, 3-1 Thiem*
A window of opportunity for Thiem after he pounds a pair of forehand passing winners on Zverev’s serve for love-30. Zverev rattles off three quick points but then double faults for deuce. He fights off another deuce point from there en route to another hold to stay out in front.
Zverev breaks in third game of second set!
Second set: *Zverev 6-2, 2-1 Thiem
Second set: Zverev 6-2, 1-1 Thiem*
Another brisk hold at love for Zverev, this one spanning all of 45 seconds. He caps it with a 125mph ace down the middle and has now won 19 of the last 21 points on his serve – and 20 of 23 overall.
Second set: *Zverev 6-2, 0-1 Thiem
Thiem is pushed again on his serve to open the second. Serving at 30-all, he makes another double fault to give Zverev a break-point chance. But he saves it after getting the best of Zverev in an 11-shot baseline rally, then holds from there.
First set: Zverev 6-2 Thiem
Zverev races out to 30-love. He’s won 13 straight points on his serve and is two points from the set. He then mixes in a double fault before Thiem wins the next point for 30-all, opening the door. But Zverev holds from there, thumping a 122mph ace to the body on set point to close it out. He hit 16 winners against six unforced errors, winning 92% first-serve points and seven of eight points at the net.
L-O-C-K-E-D IN
First set to @AlexZverev, 6-2 pic.twitter.com/Pj806xoWek
Zverev breaks in seventh game of first set!
First set: *Zverev 5-2 Thiem
First set: Zverev 4-2 Thiem*
Another love hold for the dialed-in Zverev, including a 124mph ace down the pipe. A brisk 49-second service game and he’s won the last 11 points on his serve.
First set: *Zverev 3-2 Thiem
More trouble for Thiem as he quickly goes down love-30 on his serve with his third and fourth unforced errors. He answers with a few winners for 40-30, but Zverev pushes it to deuce. Thiem escapes with the hold from there, winning a couple of commanding points from the baseline.
First set: Zverev 3-1 Thiem*
Zverev backs up the break emphatically, going 138mph unreturnable serve, backhand volley winner followed by backhand and forehand winners from the baseline to hold at love. The 23-year-old German is swinging freely, his forehand averaging 83mph off the ground. A far better start than in Friday’s semi-final.
Zverev breaks in third game of first set!
First set: *Zverev 2-1 Thiem
First set: Zverev 1-1 Thiem*
Zverev answers with an easy opening service game of his own, closing out the hold with a 136mph ace out wide followed by a 135mph ace down the middle.
First set: *Zverev 0-1 Thiem
Thiem holds comfortably to start with Zverev chipping in three unforced errors from the baseline, all off the forehand side.
Dominic Thiem is in the
Will it be Thiem’s time? ⏰@ThiemDomi | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/8hbq4ITAoF
Three years after Vogue magazine tabbed Thiem and Zverev as the sport’s next big stars in its September issue, one of them will finally break through for their first career major championship today.
This year’s US Open finalists as photographed by Thibault Montamat for the September 2017 issue of Vogue. pic.twitter.com/47ZeBopPcm
Zverev is the youngest men’s grand slam finalist since Novak Djokovic, who was also 23 years old when he reached the 2010 US Open final. He’s looking to become the youngest major champion since Juan Martin del Potro, who was 20 when he won at Flushing Meadows back in 2009. He can also become the first German man to win a major since Boris Becker at the 1996 Australian Open and would join Becker as only the second man from Germany to win the US Open.
This is also the youngest grand slam final since Djokovic, then 24, faced Nadal, 25, in the 2012 Australian Open final – and assures us the first ever major champion born in the 1990s and 63 straight born in the 80s.
Thiem can become only the second Austrian grand slam champion after Thomas Muster, the 1995 French Open champion. As mentioned, he is looking to win his first major title in his fourth appearance in a final. The other four men in the Open era who lost their first three major finals each went on to win at least one: Goran Ivanisevic (who broke through at 2001 Wimbledon), Andy Murray (2012 US Open), Andre Agassi (1992 Wimbledon) and Ivan Lendl (1984 Roland Garros).
Hello and welcome to Arthur Ashe Stadium for the US Open men’s singles final between Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem. Today’s showdown between two of the tour’s most promising young talents of the past few years will see a first-time grand slam champion on the men’s side for the first time since Marin Cilic won the 2014 US Open. It’s the 23-year-old Zverev’s first major final and the 27-year-old Thiem’s fourth after losses to Rafael Nadal at the last two French Open and a defeat to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open earlier this year.
Here’s a look at how they compare. Thiem has won seven of their nine tour meetings including their most recent showdown, a four-set blockbuster in the Australian Open semi-finals.
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s Kevin Mitchell’s lookahead to today’s match.
Related: Alexander Zverev the final hurdle in Dominic Thiem’s long road to glory
