Dominic Thiem secured the seventh ATP title of his career and his first on grass by defeating doubles partner Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-4 at the Mercedes Cup on Monday. Rain in Stuttgart delayed the final from Sunday into the next week, interrupting it with Kohlschreiber leading 3-2 in the first-set tiebreaker. The German eventually got the job done in the opener, but Thiem recovered to triumph in two hours and 11 minutes.
“It feels absolutely unreal because I came here without any expectations basically, and I’m pretty sure that it’s the most special title for me,” the 22-year-old Austrian commented. “I didn’t play that well on grass over the past two years, and this tournament was so strong…. I really cannot believe it.”
“It’s sad to lose the final, but I think it was a very good final,” Kohlschreiber reflected. “It was a tough situation because of the rain, but overall it was a great finish for the tournament and for Dominic. I’m happy with the performance. The loss is a little bit annoying, but I am happy with the week.”
While Thiem prevailed on his least favorite surface, Nicolas Mahut was up to his old tricks on the grass courts of ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Three of Mahut’s four ATP titles have now come at the Ricoh Open, which he won by holding off Gilles Muller 6-4, 6-4 on Monday. That showdown also got postponed by rain, as play was cancelled on Sunday after Mahut took the first set.
“Playing a final is always special, but this was different (because of the rain),” Mahut explained. “Getting the trophy is the most important thing. Winning the tournament as the world No. 1 in doubles is really special. I started the match really well and tried to relax. I know winning a title doesn’t happen every week.
“Yesterday, I had to change my flights (from ‘s-Hertongenbosch to London). I will now go to the airport for the earliest flight to London. I have to be ready to play Andy Murray tomorrow.”
Mahut will be playing on a second straight day when he gets right back in action on Tuesday at Queen’s Club for the AEGON Championships. The 34-year-old Frenchman almost triumphed at this Queen’s Club tournament in 2007 but ended up falling to Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(2) in a thrilling final.
Up next for the world No. 51 is a sixth career encounter with Murray, who will be taking the court for the first time since falling to Novak Djokovic in the French Open championship match. The top-seeded Scot is leading the head-to-head series 4-1, but his lone loss to Mahut came at this event in 2012 (6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(1) in the round of 32). Murray avenged that setback one season later at Queen’s Club in the form of a 6-3, 7-6(4) win.
The world No. 2 is 25-5 lifetime at Queen’s Club and has lifted the winner’s trophy four times.
Topics: 10sballs.com, Dominic Thiem, Gilles Muller, Mercedes Cup, Nicolas Mahut, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Ricky Dimon, Ricoh Open, S Hertogenbosch, Sports, Stuttgart, Tennis, Tennis News