Dominic Thiem outmuscles Rafael Nadal to suggest there could be yet another new name on ATP...

[ASFN Admin]

As London’s silent ATP Finals rolled on, Dominic Thiem rose above his inert surroundings with an electrifying performance. Should he maintain this level of intensity, expect Thiem to extend the recent sequence of first-time champions at the O2 Arena. In a thrilling match that deserved far more than just a few dozen spectators, the burly Thiem outmuscled even Rafael Nadal, tennis’s Mr Universe. His 7-6, 7-6 win leaves him well placed to become the fifth straight newcomer on the ATP Finals list. Every time the world’s best players assemble in North Greenwich, we half-assume that one of the game’s three immortals – who share 57 slams between them – will march to the title. But only if we’re not paying full attention. The reality is that Nadal – who stands on the brink of elimination after Tuesday's defeat – has never won this event, and in fact has claimed only a single indoor hard-court crown in his entire career. It feels equally as surprising that Novak Djokovic – who plays on Wednesday night against Daniil Medvedev – is on a four-year losing streak at this venue. As for Roger Federer – who is absent anyway this time, after playing only one event in 2020 – his famine extends all the way back to 2011.

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