By Chris Oddo | Saturday, May 23, 2015
Dominic Thiem won his first title on Saturday in Nice, downing Leonardo Mayer in three tight sets.
Photo Source: ATP Nice
21-year-old Austrian Dominic Thiem surged past Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer in a deciding-set tiebreaker at the Open de Nice Cote D’Azur to earn his maiden title on Saturday.
Theim was not broken all afternoon, saving all six break points he faced and rifling 44 winners to ease past Mayer, 6-7(8), 7-5, 7-6(2).
“It’s really, really special, the first title ever,” Theim said, according to ATPWorldTour.com. “It’s not only this, the match today was a really good level. Leonardo played outstanding and I was fighting until the end. I think it was one of the best matches I’ve ever played.”
Thiem becomes the 8th ATP player born in the 1990’s to have earned a title on tour.
Thiem is also the fourth first-time winner on the ATP Tour this season, joining Jiri Vesely, Victor Estrella Burgos and Jack Sock.
Thiem will open his French Open against Great Britain’s Aljaz Bedene in the first round. Thiem reached the second round in Paris last year before being knocked out by Rafael Nadal in straight sets.