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Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Tennis News, Tennis Tournaments

‘Thiem usually kicks my ass so I’m happy to win this one’ – Alexander Zverev reaches Madrid Open final


World No. 6 Alexander Zverev reached the final of the 2021 Madrid Open after beating Dominic Thiem in what he called ‘a weird match’.

The German – a 2018 Madrid champion – defeated the 27-year-old Austrian 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-finals of the Masters 1000 event today.

The 24-year-old saved a break point to hold for 2-1, before breaking the world No. 4 in the following game. He then took the set after three comfortable holds.

Zverev broke twice to go up 4-1 in the second set and – despite Thiem recovering one break – closed the match out with two more convincing service games.

“Well, (it’s) a rivalry where he kicks my ass most of the time (smiling). So, I’m quite happy to get this one,” Zverev said in an on-court interview.

“But yeah, we had some fantastic matches. We played the biggest matches in the world. We played Masters finals, Grand Slam finals.

“It’s still developing and it’s still going to go on for a few more years hopefully, and hopefully we’ll play a few more amazing matches.

“It was a little bit of a weirder match than against Rafa. The conditions were extremely difficult, it was extremely windy today.

“Last year, we didn’t get many chances (to win Masters 1000 events). I played a final in Paris but it’s going to mean a lot to me. I’m looking forward to playing another big final.”

The German will play either Casper Ruud or Matteo Berrettini in Sunday’s final.


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.