By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 17, 2019
Twenty-one-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas edged Dominic Thiem 6-7 (6), 6-2, 7-6 (4) in an electric final becoming the youngest man to win the ATP Finals in 18 years.
Photo credit: Nitto ATP Finals Facebook
The sound of fans chanting his name echoed in Stefanos Tsitsipas' ears while the finish line loomed before his eyes.
Tsitsipas streaked through it with conviction.
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Striking with daring, Tsitsipas out-dueled Dominic Thiem 6-7 (6), 6-2, 7-6 (4) capturing the biggest title of his career in an electrifying ATP Finals title match that had fans packed in London's O2 Arena chanting for both finalists at the climax.
"I remember myself watching this event on TV and thinking, oh, these guys have done an insane year to be playing here," Tsitsipas said. "And now I'm in the position to be champion, so it feels awesome."
The 21-year-old Greek is the youngest man to rule the prestigious year-end title since Lleyton Hewitt, age 20 years, 9 months defeated Sebastien Grosjean to win the 2001 ATP Finals staged in Sydney.
It was just the third time in the 50-year tournament history the final came down to a decisive-set tie breaker.
Fittingly, Tsitsipas, who has won an ATP-best 33 tie breaks this season, delivered dynamic tennis in the final tie break.
The title completes a remarkable run for the Athenian all-courter.
Three years ago, Tsitsipas visited the O2 Arena as Thiem's hitting partner for the finals.
Last year, Tsitsipas won the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.
Today, Tsitsipas showed the future is now.
Competing with cool focus, Tsitsipas smacked 9 aces, won 50 of 60 first-serve points and saved 3 of 4 break points becoming the seventh man to take the title in his ATP Finals debut.
A dynamic final performance caps a week in which Tsitsipas knocked off US Open finalist Daniil Medvedev for the first time, defeated defending champion Alexander Zverev and surprised six-time champion Roger Federer in the semifinals.
Tsitsipas earned $2,656,000 and 1,300 ranking points for the best week of his career, while Thiem takes home a finalist check for $1,302,000 and 800 ranking points that will propel him to world No. 4.
"I missed some very close balls in the tie break, which against Novak or which in other matches in the last weeks went in," Thiem said. "That was the thing in the third-set tie break. But, you know, I cannot do anything now about it.
"It was a great match from both of us, and he really deserves that win. I mean, actually, we both deserve it, but there is only one winner in tennis. So that's it. I'm happy also with this match today."
This final popped with periods of throwback attacking tennis. There was no time wasted dawdling, calling for the towel or pacing around behind the baseline. These two shotmakers lined up and took it to each other for two-and-a-half hours of tremendous tennis and plenty of thrills.
The 26-year-old Thiem had won three of their four prior hard-court clashes. Today, Tsitsipas came out firing bullets building a 3-2 lead on the strength of some heavy forehands.
Thiem navigated a 15-3 deficit to hold in the sixth game then pressured in the seventh. Straddling the baseline, Thiem cranked a forehand in the corner drawing the error for break point.
Tsitsipas, who had saved 19 of the prior 22 break points he faced in the tournament, came good again serving-and-volleying on a second serve to deny it. Tsitsipas carved another short volley saving a second break point and eventually holding for 4-3.
Turning his shoulder into his shot, Tsitsipas flicked a forehand return winner down the line then gained double break point on a Thiem forehand error.
The fifth-seeded Austrian answered with an ace and a full-stretch forehand volley to deny both eventually holding even after eight games.
Thiem backed force with finesse cradling a backhand drop volley to force the tie break.
Little separated the pair as Thiem broke to start the break then used the slider serve to extend to 5-2. When Thiem narrowly missed a forehand down the line, Tsitsipas got the mini-break back leveling at 5-all.
The youngest man in the field saved set point with a smash but bungled a baackhand to face a second set point. This time, Thiem tomahawked a biting serve down the T to take the 65-minute opener.
The elation of the opening set gave way to immediate deflation as Thiem scattered a forehand ending a sloppy game that saw him gift the first break of the match to start the second set.
The lanky Greek took the donation and ran with it.
Moving smoothly and striking cleanly, Tsitsipas broke again for 3-0. The Athenian all-courter powered through three straight love holds before serving out the second set at 30 to force the decider.
After a bathroom break to reset, the Indian Wells champion returned to court and erased a pair of break points to open the decider.
The depth of Tsitsipas' returns tormented Thiem. Punishing a forehand brought the sixth seed two more break points.
On the second, Tsitsipas jammed a return into the body and Thiem stuck a backhand down the line into net as the Greek broke for 2-1. Tsitsipas showed his all-court skills winning 16 of his first 19 trips to net.
A primary difference in the match was the 6'4" Tsitsipas' efficiency holding serve. He consistently won the first point of service games, but that trend was tested as Thiem rocketed a backhand missile rattling out a volley error for double break point. When Tsitsipas sprayed a backhand off the backfoot, Thiem had his first break of the day for 3-all.
The Austrian was 11-0 in final sets staged on hard court this season and held with a serve bolt for 6-5.
For the first time in 13 years a final-set tie break would decide the title.
Unleashing a flying smash and exploiting two backhand errors Tsitsipas built a 4-1 lead as Greek fans were chanting "Tsitsipas! Tsitsipas!" in unison.
Credit Thiem for attacking the ball under immense pressure. Thiem torched a backhand winner down the line for 4-all. From there it was all Tsitsipas as he hammered a deep forehand for 5-4.
The two-time Roland Garros finalist went down swinging and attacking his shots just as he did in upsetting six-time champion Roger Federer and five-time champion Novak Djokovic.
"It's always going to be like that in tennis," Thiem said. "That's why it's probably mentally the most brutal sport existing, because you can play such a great match and end up losing in the championship match. From that point of view, it's a very disappointing loss, very hard to digest.
"But on the same hand, I had some amazing wins also, even this week, that they get me in this situation even to play the finals. So it's fine."
A crackling crosscourt exchange escalated as Tsitsipas absorbed everything Thiem threw at him until the Austrian launched himself into a forehand down the line that expired in the tape for two championship points.
Tsitsipas slashed one final serve out wide and tossed his racquet aside realizing his dream in two hours, 35 minutes. He is he fourth consecutive maiden champion at the season event and now Tsitsipas is aiming for a Grand Slam title in 2020.
"I feel like my game is getting better over time, and I believe I'm really close on being crowned a Grand Slam champion," Tsitsipas said. "I know these are strong words that I say, but I do feel like I belong to be there. I'm competing against one of the best players in the world, and the amount of effort and the amount of work I put every day deserves to have an outcome like this."