Tsitsipas thwarts Thiem comeback with Vienna embarrassment

Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Dominic Thiem for the third time this season to derail the Austrian’s home injury comeback effort on Tuesday in an opening match at the ATP event in Vienna.

The Greek winner who stands provisional sixth in the race to the eight-man ATP Finals next month in Turin pounded out a 7-6(5), 6-4 victory in two hours at the Stadthalle in the Austrian capital

Tsitsipas saved all three break points he faced and rallied from 2-4 down in the opening set tiebreak before taking control in the second set against the former US Open champion.

“He made it difficult, as always. Every single match that we have played this year has been on the edge, and it wouldn’t be any different this time,” the winner said.

Thiem has been battling various injuries since June, 2021 and most recently was suffering with long-term stomach problems.

“I really had to come up with some good shots towards the end,” Tsitispas said.

“There were some extraordinary rallies played during the course of the match. It was very physical and I had to stay very composed.

“In the second set, he really stepped up his game, but I didn’t give him that break that he was looking for.”

Tsitsipas won his 46th match of the season against 20 defeats.

Victory marked the first time in two years that Tsitsipas has won his opening match at an indoor tournament.