Thiem tops up his game to reach Gstaad quarters

Dominic Thiem produced what he called the best match of his injury comeback on Thursday to power into the quarter-finals of the ATP event in Gstaad as he saved a pair of tiebreak set points.

The Austrian who won the title in this elite alpine village seven years ago and only returned for this edition, overcame a first-set swoon to post a 7-6(6), 6-3 defeat of Federico Delbonis.

“I had a good feeling at almost every shot,” the 2020 US Open winner said as his comeback from a wrist injury in June, 2021 gained further pace. “In general I was happy with my game.

“”This win is great for the confidence and will hopefully help me tomorrow.”

The former ATP No. 3 player whose ranking of 274 is on the rise, will face off in a Friday quarter-final against Peruvian outsider Juan Pablo Varillas, who put out Spanish third seed and 2018 finalist Robert Bautista Agut 7-6(3), 7-5.

Thiem advanced in just under two hours but almost gave away the opening set as he let slip a 5-2 lead over his 125th-ranked Argentine opponent Delbonis,

“My shots were good from both sides today,” 17-time title-winner Thiem said, “I got some winners and the way I played from the baseline was the best of this comeback.

“I’m confident for what is to come.”