THIEM OUTLASTS MONFILS TO KEEP SEMIFINAL HOPES ALIVE AT BARCLAYS ATP TENNIS WORLD TOUR FINALS

Written by: Staff on 15th November 2016

THIEM OUTLASTS MONFILS TO KEEP SEMIFINAL HOPES ALIVE AT BARCLAYS ATP TENNIS WORLD TOUR FINALS

epa05632549 Dominic Thiem of Austria reacts after defeating Gael Monfils of France in their men's singles match of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 15 November 2016. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA |

By Ricky Dimon

With both players seeking the first victory of their careers at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, Dominic Thiem held off Gael Monfils 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 during Group round-robin competition on Tuesday afternoon. Thiem improved to 1-1 for the tournament by prevailing in one hour and 29 minutes.

The 23-year-old Austrian used one break at 3-2 to cruise through the opening set before the match turned into something strikingly familiar. In his opener against Novak Djokovic on Sunday, Thiem won the first set before dropping the second 6-0 (and ultimately losing 6-7(10), 6-0, 6-2). Against Monfils, Thiem slumped to 4-0 deficit in the second set and eventually surrendered it 6-1.

Struggling physically after the opening set, Monfils picked up his aggression–in terms of both serve speed and his willingness to serve and volley. It worked for the Frenchman in the second and he held serve in lightning-quick fashion en route to 3-3 in the decider. He soon fought off three break points to hold for 4-4.

At 4-5, however, Monfils cracked. Three straight double-faults to the deuce side and a backhand error on match point handed the victory to Thiem.

“Not my best,” Monfils said when asked about his fitness level. “It was a tough one. Dominic was better than me. I think I didn’t play a great match, but I gave everything I had.”

Gael Monfils of France returns the ball to Dominic Thiem of Austria during their men’s singles match of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 15 November 2016. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

“I think the energy in the first match and today was not perfect, but it was pretty good,” noted Thiem, who has played 81 matches this season. “The tournament, the big crowd, the big arena gives me–and gives probably all the players–a lot of energy. I think that’s why everybody is giving his last energy in this tournament.”

If Djokovic beats Milos Raonic in the nightcap, Monfils will be eliminated and Raonic will go head-to-head with Thiem for a spot in the semifinals.

In the afternoon doubles match, Jamie Murray treated the home crowd to a win with Bruno Soares over Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan. Murray and Soares improved to 2-0 in Group B after just one hour and one minute.

The British-Brazilian pairing not face a single break point in the entire match. In fact, the team lost a mere seven points in 10 service games. Murray and Soares generated six break chances of their own, and converting two of them was more than enough.

“We certainly played a great match,” Murray assured. “From start to finish. (It was) probably one of our best matches of the year. We served really well throughout; cleaned up well on our serves. I think we had a good game-plan to play against them. We executed it really well. I think we both returned the ball smartly, put it in some difficult spots for them, then were really active around the net.

“I think we’re both super pumped about the win. (We) should have a good chance to progress further in the tournament now.”