By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday July 28, 2022

The path looked clear for what would have been a momentous title run for Dominic Thiem, but Yannick Hanfmann stood tall and blocked the former World No.3’s way, executing a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory to reach the semifinals.



“Lots of emotions,” said Hanfmann after his win. “What a drama – what an atmosphere.”

Hanfmann had to fight off break points in the ninth game, with rain starting to fall, before holding serve. Immediately after the players were taken off court for a spell, with the courts covered.

When action resumed, the German struck quickly to lock up the victory in two hours and 35 minutes.

Thiem entered the match in good form, having won seven of nine matches after snapping his ten-match losing streak at Bastad in early July. But he couldn’t get past the 31-year-old in their first career meeting.

“I’m just really happy to be part of it, to come out victorious against a player like him, here on this court,” said Hanfmann. 140th-ranked Hanfmann improves to 7-5 on the season and will face either Filip Misolic or Dusan Lajovic in the semis.

The top-half semi-final will be an all-Spanish affair as fifth-seeded Albert Ramos-Vinolas (d. No.7 seed Martinez) and third-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut (d. Lehecka) each came through.