DOMINIC THIEM ROUNDS OUT FINAL EIGHT AT BARCLAYS ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS, SET TO MAKE LONDON DEBUT

Written by: Staff on 5th November 2016

BNP Paribas 2016 Masters Tennis Tournament

DOMINIC THIEM ROUNDS OUT FINAL EIGHT AT BARCLAYS ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS, SET TO MAKE LONDON DEBUT

epa05614170 Dominic Thiem of Austria returns the ball to Jack Sock of the US during their second round match for the BNP Paribas 2016 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 02 November 2016. EPA/IAN LANGSDON |

By Ricky Dimon

An incredible first half of 2016 has Dominic Thiem going to the year-end championship for the first time in his career. Thiem clinched a spot in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals when fellow contender Tomas Berdych lost to Andy Murray 7-6(9), 7-5 in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Masters on Friday.

The 23-year-old Austrian bowed of Paris right away by losing his opener to Jack Sock, after which he had to play the waiting game. Berdych, David Goffin, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Roberto Bautista Agut all had a chance of overtaking Thiem. With Goffin and Bautista Agut having already exited prior to Friday’s quarterfinals, only Berdych and Tsonga stood in Thiem’s way. In addition to Berdych’s setback against Murray, Tsonga–who had to win the Paris title in order to qualify for London–fell to Milos Raonic 6-2, 7-6(4).

“I’m so happy to have made it to London, also thanks to Andy and Milos who helped me out,” Thiem noted. “It’s been a dream since my childhood to qualify for the ATP Finals. In the past two years it became a goal and to achieve it at such a young age it is amazing, 20 years after the only other Austrian player (Thomas Muster). It’s going to be a great experience to compete against the best players in the world. I look forward to spending a week with them in London.”

@ThiemDomi will make #ATPFinals debut @TheO2, clinches final spot in 2016 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals field – Photo by @ATPWorldTour via Twitter.

Thiem will have to get his game back in shape in a hurry if he wants it to be a productive week. The world No. 8 is just 9-10 in his last 19 matches dating back to the second round Wimbledon.

He was, however, on fire earlier in the season. Thiem captured titles in Buenos Aires, Acapulco, Nice, and Stuttgart while finishing runner-up in Munich. He also reached the semifinals in Rio de Janeiro and at the French Open.

Theim rounds out a London field that also includes Murray, Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic, Gael Monfils, and Marin Cilic.

“We look forward to welcoming the best eight qualified singles players and doubles teams of the year back to the O2 for another spectacular season-ending tournament,” ATP CEO Chris Kermode said. “These players have all had outstanding seasons and fully deserve their place at our season finale. And with the year-end No.1 ranking still on the line in both singles and doubles, the stakes are as high as ever ahead of this year’s event.”