Dominic Thiem (5) from Austria would meet Alexander Zverev (7) from Germany in a battle of the younger generation of male players on tour.
The Austrian served first and with errors from both his backhand and forehand, he faced three break points. He saved two with solid serving, but a stray backhand gave Zverev the break.
Zverev also faced a trio of break points following three forehand mistakes. A big serve saved one, but he too couldn’t stop the break from occurring. 1-1.
No more issues through to game six, and at 3-3 Thiem served again. Thiem hit a forehand winner to compensate for his backhand failure, but a Zverev down the line forehand winner and an Austrian double fault brought up two break points. A forehand landed wide and Zverev broke to lead 4-3. He then consolidated to love, big serving to the fore, an ace sealing it.
Thiem served at 3-5, attempting to stay in the set. The first point saw a blistering return by Zverev landing at the feet of Thiem forcing a backhand to fly wide. A poor drop shot failed. 0-30. Thiem forced a Zverev forehand mistake, the German pushed a backhand long, and a service winner gave Thiem game point. Deuce after a Thiem forehand hit the net, and set point after another unforced forehand error.
The set finished when Thiem hit the net. Zverev led 6-3.
At 1-1 all in set two Zverev served. A pair of double faults and 0-30. An errant forehand produced two break points. An ace saved one, but another forehand stuff up donated the break. Thiem led 2-1.
The players exchanged breaks in games six and seven, and then each held serve before Thiem went to the line at 5-4, serving for the set.
Service winner 15-0. Austrian backhand error 15-15. Zverev read a Thiem smash well, and reached high to put an amazing winner past an astonished fifth seed 15-30. A terrific rally ended with a Thiem backhand pass. 30-30. A Zverev lob caused Thiem to mishit an overhead and it was break point. Saved when Thiem’s forehand was as good as a clean winner.
A second break chance arrived when a Thiem forehand drifted wide. Saved after Zverev hit the net following a huge rally. Thiem reached set point when he put away a simple volley at the net, set up by an excellent forehand dragging Zverev far wide. An ace and Thiem levelled the match 3-6 6-4.
Set three featured break points in all games 3-6, and breaks occurred in game three, Thiem converting the third of three break chances, and game six, Zverev also converting the third of three break points.
At 4-5, Thiem served to stay in the set. At 40-30, his forehand landed long, then another finished wide, giving Zverev a set point. Saved with a glorious backhand winner down the line.
A second set point was faced when a Thiem backhand found the net. A forehand winner saved that one and he held for 5-5.
A tie break was required and Thiem won the first point, a brilliant half volley. It was off the Zverev serve so he had the mini break. That edge was maintained as both players won all points on their serves until Zverev served at 3-5. Thiem rocketed a forehand down the line and he had three set points. A backhand cross court winner presented Thiem with a 3-6 6-4 7-6(3) lead.
Serve was not threatened in set four, with only one deuce, that in the tenth game on the Zverev delivery. So a second tie break to separate the pair.
Here, points were falling against serve for the most part. Thiem was ahead 3-0, following a double fault and backhand miss from Zverev.
On the Thiem serve, Zverev won both points, Austrian backhand and forehand misses. 2-3 with Zverev to serve again. A crucial overhead disaster cost the German player. The shot, which should have been an easy put away, instead landed way out and Thiem had a mini break once more.
Zverev won the next point, but Thiem secured three match points after two huge forehand winners. The first was saved when Zverev delivered a big serve, but the match was over when Thiem hit a winning volley.
Dominic Thiem won a place in his first Australian Open final 3-6 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(4).
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