Dominic Thiem lived up to his tag as the new US Open favorite with an energetic performance to knock out Andy Murray’s conqueror, Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The Austrian moved atop the pecking order for the title after Novak Djokovic’s disqualification on Sunday for striking a ball at a line judge as Thiem produced a near-flawless sprint to the finish line to dismantle his opponent 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 6-2.
Auger-Aliassime had given the match of the tournament performance in his victory over Murray but after a very slim first set that was won by Thiem on a tie-break, the second seed produced a spectacular display down the stretch.
The 27-year-old lost just two more games as Auger-Aliassime couldn’t live with his opponent’s speed, movement and power – traits that have taken him to the brink of a major breakthrough.
Watch the match highlights below
Since suffering at the hands of Rafael Nadal in the 2018 French Open and in the 2019 final at Roland Garros as well as Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final earlier this year, Thiem looks well placed to go all the way having now matched his best performance in the US major.
Thiem is now perfectly positioned to finally make a breakthrough since Nadal and Roger Federer are absent from this year’s US Open event and Djokovic’s headline-grabbing exit has left the tournament there for the taking.
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There will be a brand new men’s singles Grand Slam champion for the first time in six years, and after years of hinting at a breakthrough for the new generation.
This year’s event will crown the first men’s Slam champion born in the 1990s.
“For myself, and I think for the other remaining players left in the draw, it doesn’t matter at all if the big three are here or not,” Thiem said after his victory.
“I think everyone just wants their hands on this trophy. What happened, happened. Nobody of the other players has any or had any influence of that.
“We just need to focus and focus on ourselves. Of course, it’s probably a little bit of a bigger chance for all of us to win the first slam.”
In other centers…
Alex De Minaur accounted for the last 30-year-old standing as he reached the last eight of Grand Slam for the first time thanks to a 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 6-2 win over Canada’s Vasek Pospisil
The 21-year-old got the better of a keenly contested first set that featured no breakpoints but ended when De Minaur staged a rallying come back from 6-2 down in the tie-break.
Having wasted four set points, Pospisil then lost his way and managed just five more games as De Minaur advanced to the last eight
“That first set was crucial, I think it was just a couple of things going his way and then my way,” the 21st seed said afterwards.
“I went down 6-2 but I don’t think I played a bad tiebreak I was just unlucky here and there – I just tried to stay calm, do my thing.”
De Minaur would now look towards an epic showdown with Thiem on Wednesday with a place in the last four at stake.
Daniil Medvedev is also a serious contender as he looks to go one better than last year.
The Russian destroyed Frances Tiafoe 6-4 6-1 6-0 to go through to the last eight.
Medvedev admitted that he was in “unbelievable” form, winning 12 of the last 13 games.
He says: “In the beginning I was not playing amazing. I was doing a little bit of unforced mistakes… I was lucky to get an early break, relax a little bit and then I played some unbelievable tennis tonight.
“I’m playing good. I’m playing better every match.”
Daniil Medvedev will next face his compatriot and 10th seed, Andrey Rublev, in the next round.
Rublev is also a contender for the title, after beating Matteo Berrettini 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-3.
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