ROGER FEDERER LOSES A HEARTBREAKER TO DOMINIC THIEM WHO CAME BACK FROM THE BRINK TO WIN, DOM WILL NOW FACE DOUBLES PARTNER KOHLSCHREIBER IN FINALS IN STUTTGART TENNIS

Written by: Staff on 11th June 2016

ROGER FEDERER LOSES A HEARTBREAKER TO DOMINIC THIEM WHO CAME BACK FROM THE BRINK TO WIN, DOM WILL NOW FACE DOUBLES PARTNER KOHLSCHREIBER IN FINALS IN STUTTGART TENNIS

epa05356821 Switzerland's Roger Federer returns the ball to Dominic Thiem of Austria during their semi final match of the ATP tennis tournament at the Weissenhof in Stuttgart, Germany, 11 June 2016. EPA/MARIJAN MURAT |

By Ricky Dimon

Dominic Thiem fought off two match points to upset Roger Federer 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-4 in the semifinals of the Mercedes Cup on Saturday afternoon. Thiem survived a rain-interrupted, roller-coaster contest to book his place alongside doubles partner Philipp Kohlschreiber in Sunday’s title match.

A single service break was enough for Federer in the first set, but the proceedings became far less straightforward in a hurry. Thiem squandered all of a 5-0 advantage in the second set and eventually found himself down a match point twice in the tiebreaker. The Austrian saved one when Federer netted a backhand volley and another with a winning backhand, cross-court return.

Like in the opening set, the decider came down to just one break. This time it went to Thiem, who converted at 3-3 when Federer mis-hit a forehand volley into the tape. Rain temporarily prevented the 22-year-old from reaching the finish line, but he eventually came back out and produced two routine service holds to clinch the win after one hour and 57 minutes.

“To beat the greatest ever on maybe his best surface, you need a lot of luck,” Thiem said of the seven-time Wimbledon champion. “I cannot believe it really; what a feeling, especially on grass…. I was so nervous–obviously at 5-0 in the second set. I was fortunate in the tiebreaker, but you need good luck to beat the best player on grass.”

The world No. 7 is now tied with Novak Djokovic for the top spot in match victories this season, with 44. He is 44-11, while Djokovic is 44-3.

Kohlschreiber, who was Thiem’s doubles partner in Stuttgart and will be the same next week in Halle, will be the opposition on Sunday. The German ended Juan Martin Del Potro’s run with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph in another rain-delayed contest that wrapped up shortly before darkness.

Thiem and Kohlschreiber have squared off on two previous occasions, with Kohlschreiber sweeping the head-to-head series 2-0. The world No. 26 prevailed 6-0, 7-6(6) on the clay courts of Kitzbuhel last season and 7-6(7), 4-6, 7-6(4) again on clay in the recent Munich title match.

Thiem preceded his big win over Federer by taking out Sam Groth and Mikhail Youzhny. Kohlschreiber is through to his 15th career ATP final and second of the year following straight-set defeats of Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Denis Kudla, Radek Stepanek, and Juan Martin Del Potro.