By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, May 30, 2021
Two-time French Open finalist Dominic Thiem is one and done falling to 35-year-old Pablo Andujar in a five-set Roland Garros opener.
Photo credit: Julian Finney/Getty
Dominic Thiem misfired a forehand and threw his hands in the air like a man recoiling from repeated miscues.
A resilient Pablo Andujar rallied from a two-set deficit to shove Thiem right out of this Roland Garros in a shocking 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 first-round upset.
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Afterward, Thiem conceded he felt as if he was suffering an identity crisis on court—his game and movement weren't there when he needed them most.
"I was not struggling at all with my motivation, but the game was just not there today," Thiem said. "Like all the shots are missing power. They are not accurate enough. I'm moving not well enough, so everything in my game there are some percents missing, you know. ..
"Shots were there in practice and it got also better in Madrid and Rome. But Lyon and here, I mean, the shots and all how I moved and everything was just not the real me, I would say, or my version who is able to play for big titles. It's just not good enough at the moment. And, yeah, it's very tough situation."
On match point, Andujar hit a diagonal forehand to close a four hour, 28-minute comeback conquest then dropped to his knees in exhilaration capping his first career Top 5-victory in his 12th attempt.
It was a fitting celebration for Andujar's 150th career victory. Ultimately, Andujar was sharper down the stretch and exuded more fire and desire amid fifth-set pressure.
"It is very special to win here in Roland Garros, in Philippe Chatrier," Andujar said. "Such an emotional win for me, being two sets to Love down against an amazing player. So, yeah, it is very special."
In the space of a couple of weeks, the 35-year-old Spaniard has knocked off a pair of Grand Slam champions: 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer and US Open champion Thiem.
All this from a man who has withstood three elbow surgeries, failed to survive the French Open first round in five of his last six appearances yet refused to relinquish his tennis dreams and competed with warrior spirit today.
Twelve days ago, Andujar surged through the final four games spoiling Federer's clay-court comeback 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to reach his second quarterfinal of the season at the Geneva Open. That was Andujar's first Top 10 win since he defeated David Ferrer in the 2015 Barcelona semifinals.
A fired-up Andujar followed with today's impressive encore. It's the first time Andujar fought back from two sets down to win a match and just the second time Thiem surrended a two-set lead.
"It gave me more confidence in myself, trying to believe in myself," Andujar said. "I think that victory make me still believe even if I was two sets to Love down.
"So I tried to keep focused. I knew I could win that set, that third set, and everything was going to change. I thought, I really believed, and that probably maybe in a big percentage, small percentage, I don't know how much, but of course there is a percentage of that win gave me that confidence to believe in this win."
The first round was the final stop for two-time Roland Garros runner-up Thiem, who suffered his first opening-round exit in eight appearances in Paris.
The major malaise that has plagued Thiem since he edged Alexander Zverev to capture his maiden major at the US Open last September continues. Thiem, who was 47-1 when winning the first two sets at a Slam with his lone loss coming to Juan Martin del Potro at the 2017 US Open, lacked his trademark intensity and closing power and scattered 61 unforced errors enduring his second straight opening-round loss after falling to Cameron Norrie in Lyon.
Clubbing heavy forehands, Thiem broke at love for a 4-3 second-set lead.
Serving for a two-set lead, Thiem blinked. Andujar slid a running backhand off the sideline for break point then broke back for 5-all when Thiem missed a backhand.
Resetting, Thiem rocketed a backhand bolt down the line for triple break point as an irate Andujar slammed his racquet to the red clay and tore at his shirt in disgust. The Spaniard's drive hit the top of the tape and plopped back on his side of the net as Thiem earned his fourth break for 6-5.
Serving for the set again, Thiem spun a forehand crosscourt snatching a two-set lead just three minutes shy of two hours.
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The fourth-seeded Austrian lost his way late in the third set. Thiem turned in his sloppiest service game spraying an unforced error and double fault to face triple break point. Thiem dragged a forehand wide as Andujar broke for 5-3.
The Spanish veteran made a clever sneak attack knocking off a volley for set point and when Thiem hit a flat forehand into net, Andujar had the 40-minute third set.
The two-handed backhand is one of Andujar's most assertive weapons and the Spaniard stung a backhand pass for triple break point. Thiem lifted a forehand wide to gift the break, shrugging his shoulders as if baffled by his loss of form. Andujar had some success deploying the drop shot to drag the Austrian forward for passing shot opportunities. Andujar read the Austrian's forehand and lashed a forehand pass crosscourt backing up the break for a 3-1 fourth-set lead.
A wild double fault showed signs of jitters in the two-time finalist. Andujar angled a backhand return and Thiem sprayed a backhand down the line dropping serve again as the Spanish veteran surged to a 4-1 lead.
Andujar served out the fourth set to take it to a decider after three hours, 47 minutes of play.
The pair traded breaks to start the final set.
Facing one of the fittest man in tennis, Andujar found a higher gear running through eight of nine points to break in the fifth game and consolidate at love for 4-2.
Serving for his first Top 5 win, Andujar ran down a drop shot and shoveled a winner down the line. On match point, Andujar pounced on a mid-court ball and banged a forehand winner dropping to his knees in delight.
While Andujar advances to a second-round match vs. either Radu Albot or Federico Delbonis, Thiem will try to recharge ahead of next month's Wimbledon, where he's fallen in the first round three times in six appearances, including his last two trips to SW19.