Nadal served first, and after seven games the opening set was on serve, the Spaniard ahead 4-3. Thiem had lost just one point in holding his serve, while it had been a longer road for the top seed, Nadal needing to save a break point in the fifth game.
For all that Thiem was the one under the first real pressure.
After holding to love, Nadal broke Thiem, also to love, and led 5-3,
Serving for the set, Nadal was denied when he had a set point, then Thiem broke back, converting the third of three chances.
Back on serve, and that’s how it remained until a tie break.
Nadal won the first point against serve in the tie break and had the early lead 2-0. Thiem grabbed the initiative on the fourth and fifth points, winning both off the Nadal delivery, the first a running forehand pass, the second a Nadal forehand failure.
Nadal put it back on serve, winning the seventh point off a Thiem serve, courtesy of a forehand winner, but Thiem won the next two points off the Nadal serve to earn three set points. A forehand winner down the line sealed the set for Thiem 7-6(3).
Nadal broke Thiem to love in the fifth game of set two, but Thiem retrieved things in game eight, breaking with the second of three opportunities.
4–4 became 6-6 but not before Nadal saved a set point when serving to send it into a tie break.
Thiem won the first four points of the breaker, but Nadal drew level after taking the fifth and eighth points, both off the Thiem serve.
Serving at 4-5, Nadal played a drop shot but Thiem ran it down and hit a forehand winner. On the first of the resultant two set points, a net cord helped Thiem then put away a forehand to win the set 7-6(4).
Set three saw both players comfortable on serve for nine games, neither taken as far as deuce.
At 4-5, Thiem missed with a backhand, then his forehand landed wide. 0-30. An ace helped, but another backhand mistake gave Nadal two set points. One was saved when the top seed returned a serve long, but the set went to Spain 6-4 after Thiem found the net with a backhand.
Thiem saved three break points in a long second game of set four, then broke Nadal in the third game, the top seed bringing three errors to the table after leading 30-15.
Serving for the match at 5-4, Thiem hit a winning forehand 15-0. The next forehand was overhit and landed long. A double fault and 15-30.
A netted Thiem forehand and two break back points. An ace saved one, but a forehand missed and Nadal levelled at 5-5.
A tie break arrived and the first five points were won against the serve, leaving Thiem ahead with two serves to come.
Points went with serve until Thiem had 5-4. He served out wide and Nadal could only find he net. Two match points. One saved when Thiem smashed the net with an easy forehand. Back on serve. Nadal saved the next match point when Thiem hit a forehand long.
6-6. Thiem earned a third match point with a brilliant passing backhand. This time he converted when Nadal hit the net.
Dominic Thiem was into the Australian Open semi final after winning 7-6(3) 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(6).
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