Stefanos Tsitsipas wins ATP Finals title: Greek defeats Dominic Thiem in three sets at The O2

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Joe Krishnan17 November 2019

Stefanos Tsitsipas has won the ATP Finals after beating Dominic Thiem in a thrilling final at The O2 Arena.

The 21-year-old suffered an early setback after losing the first-set tie-break. But the Greek youngster channelled his frustration into his game, bouncing back to win the second in just 29 minutes and force a deciding set.

His phenomenal serving showed he would be difficult to beat and when the match went to a final set-tiebreak, he held his nerve to seal a 6-7, 2-6, 7-6 success in two hours and 35 minutes to win the title on his debut.

By doing so, he becomes the first player from his nation to win the tournament and the youngest champion since Lleyton Hewitt in 2001.

After a full week of packed crowds and dramatic action, The O2 arena wasn't close to being at capacity and the lack of a top-three player in the showpiece fixture was probably to blame. But these were two players who could soon be Grand Slam winners and it promised to be an intriguing battle.

Stefanos Tsitsipas Photo: AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images

Neither player had won a title that held the same significance as this, although Thiem - twice a Grand Slam finalist - was no stranger to the pressure. The pair are close off and on the court, but both players pledged to put their friendship to one side as they prepared to go at it hammer and tongs.

Tsitsipas showed just how strong he was going into the semi-finals by winning his first two matches and, having already qualified, took Rafael Nadal all the way in a three-hour marathon.

But Thiem's confidence would have been sky high, having overcome Federer, Djokovic and last year's champion Alexander Zverev on his route to the final.

Dominic Thiem Photo: REUTERS
REUTERS

Thiem looked a little nervous, making errors from the net that only come from a mental block and found himself a break point down. But the Austrian fought back to deny Tsitsipas an early advantage.

Tsitsipas was the master of saving break points and he had to put his abilities to the test when Thiem earned two at 3-3. Sure enough, he lived up to the billing, fighting with a mixture of grit and class to stay on serve.

In the next game, it was Thiem's turn to prove his resilience. Tsitsipas had the double-breakpoint opportunity this time, but some outstanding work - with a volley at full-stretch - at the net saved his skin.With nothing in it, there was no real surprise when the players took it to a tie-break. Even then, sudden death was needed at 6-6. But when Tsitsipas made a colossal blunder on the backhand, Thiem took full advantage and wrapped up the first set after 63 minutes.

For the first time, Tsitsipas looked frustrated. But crucially, he managed to channel it into his game and began his fightback immediately, taking a double break inside the first 13 minutes on his way to a 4-0 lead in the second set.

Photo: AP
AP

Tsitsipas was looking utterly dominant and didn't drop a point on his serve until the final game, and only two in the entire set, as he forced a deciding set.

The 21-year-old certainly had the momentum but there was a feeling Thiem was holding back, conserving his energy for the final set after conceding the early double break.

He had to keep his nerve to avoid a similar occurrence in the second set as a determined Tsitsipas earned two early break points. But Thiem was adamant he wouldn't let it slip this time, recovering by using the power of his serve to squeeze errors out of Tsitsipas.

Thiem showed an admirable sense of courage to snatch back the break and take three games in a row as the momentum swung in his favour.

But Tsitsipas rediscovered his composure, taking the lead in some exceptional rallies on display and brought it back to 4-4. Thiem served impeccably to lead 5-4, though, to throw the pressure right back onto the young Athenian's shoulders.

There was very few signs of him losing his nerve and it was perhaps fitting that an extremely tight contest went to a final-set tiebreak.

Thiem fought back from 4-1 down to level the tiebreak but made two crucial errors on the forehand and he knew the game was up. Tsitsipas had two serves left and making them both would see him triumph. An error from Thiem. Two match points. First serve? Out. Second serve? In. Thiem, with a rush of blood, strikes long and the Greek collapses to the floor. The crowd had got their champion after a marathon match in London and his name was Stefanos.

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10 November 2019

Unfamiliar foes

It's a rarity for Novak Djokovic to going into a match against a top-10 player without facing him before. But that's the case this afternoon as he prepares to go toe-to-toe with Matteo Berrettini.

Photo: Getty 

This time last year, the Italian was ranked outside the top 50. But 2019 has been a marvellous season for him in 2019, reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon and making it to the semi-finals at the US Open.

Djokovic won here for four straight years between 2012 and 2015, before Andy Murray took the title the following season. But with his world number one status now gone, Djokovic will know that victory in London could be crucial in helping him take back the No 1 spot from Rafa Nadal before the curtain falls on the tennis season.

Berrettini has beaten Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem before, but he's yet to defeat a top three player. Is today the day the 23-year-old changes that very fact?

10 November 2019

Result

R. Ram / J. Salisbury 3-6, 4-6 R. Klaasen / M. Venus

It's defeat for Joe Salisbury and his partner Rajeev Ram as they fall to Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus in the opening match of the doubles tournament.

10 November 2019

Djokovic gunning for No 1 spot

Novak Djokovic goes into his clash with Matteo Berrettini having had his world number one status taken away from him.

Photo: Getty 

But the Serbian is confident his displays at the ATP Finals will get him back to where he needs to be - and

says being number one is one of the "best feelings" you can have being a tennis player.

"It all requires great motivation" Djokovic said on Friday.

"We all work very hard, it's a very long season - the longest in sport. We all want to do well and play consistently to qualify for the season finale.

"The ranking situation does not only depend on me but I'm going to try to perform as best as I can in every match. Historically, I have always played well here and it is a fantastic stage to hold the world tour finals. 

"These are two of the best feelings you can have being a professional tennis player: winning a Grand Slam and being number one at the end of the season. In terms of goals and achievements, that is right at the top. To be in a position to battle for that, I am grateful and to be feeling healthy too."

10 November 2019

First set result

R. Ram / J. Salisbury 3-6 R. Klaasen / M. Venus

10 November 2019

Joe Salisbury: Two years ago I couldn’t dream of the ATP Finals

There's a Brit in action at the £7million ATP Finals at the O2 Arena and his surname isn’t Murray, writes Matt Majendie.

At least one of the brothers has been at the past six editions of the event, sometimes both, but for the first time since 2013, the Murrays are missing. 

That’s because Andy is still climbing up the world order after having hip surgery, while Jamie is in a new partnership with Neal Skupski, the duo having joined forces during the grass-court season earlier this year.

Getty 

Instead, there is another Briton hoping to make a name for himself amid crowd favourites like of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal. Far from a household name, he is Joe Salisbury, born in Putney but now firmly rooted in Peckham.

It is barely a week since the 27-year-old qualified for the doubles at the finals with his American partner Rajeev Ram, but it is a fitting reward after enjoying his best season, having won in excess of £400,000, which is double what he had earned for the rest of his career.

For Salisbury, seeing money in his account is a novelty, since in his early days he was propped up by the bank of mum and dad.

“I’ve had a year and a half of making good money but, before that, it was basically nothing,” he said. 

“I’ve been fortunate that my parents have always been very supportive and helped out with my expenses. 

“After going to college in the US, I had a few years in singles and then doubles when I wasn’t making any money.

“I definitely had those moments where I thought whether professional tennis was for me and whether I could get to this level, but I’ve got quite a strong inner belief.”

Salisbury has not turned into a spendthrift, instead the change in finances has enabled him to pour more money into his game in terms of hiring a physio and having his coach Justin Sherring, who has been with him on and off since the age of six, with him more regularly.

In terms of the doubts, the only time he genuinely thought about walking away was as a teenager when he was struck down by glandular fever, which stopped him from playing for a year, and then he had a growth spurt, leading to a series of injuries. 

Salisbury at least had the back-up option of an economics and business degree in America in case he failed to realise his tennis dream.

A Wimbledon semi-finalist in the men’s doubles from a year ago, he insists qualifying for London eclipses that achievement.

“This is pretty much my first full year on the tour and our first season together, so it’s a bit unexpected,” he said of a partnership which resulted in a final appearance in Brisbane in their first outing. He says it is a pairing “that just clicked”.

Salisbury said: “It’s a huge deal for me, especially with it being in London and I wouldn’t have thought even two years ago that I’d been playing there.

"I’ve been watching it on TV for so long and it’s the pinnacle of the tour. Some people say the Grand Slams are bigger but this means you’ve had a great year.”

Salisbury and Ram have reached five finals in all this year, winning titles in Brisbane and Dubai, as well as being on the receiving end of Andy Murray’s winning return at Queen’s. 

Murray has been training alongside Salisbury at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton for the past week.

“Andy and Jamie have offered their congratulations and it’s nice to carry on with a Brit in the tournament,” he said. “And hopefully we’ll all be back next year.”

For now, Salisbury has his own moment in the spotlight with the genuine belief that he can be victorious come next Sunday.

“Yeah, why not,” he said. “We’ve beaten most of the top guys this year and I’d like to think I’ll have the home support.”

10 November 2019

We are under way at the O2...

[4] R. Ram (USA) / J. Salisbury (GBR) vs R. Klaasen (RSA) / M. Venus (NZL) [5]

10 November 2019

Current ATP rankings

1    +1    Rafael Nadal    9585

2    -1    Novak Djokovic    8945

3    -    Roger Federer    6190

4    -    Daniil Medvedev    5705

10 November 2019

Djokovic and Nadal battling for world No1

"In my personal opinion it’s one of the two biggest achievements you can have as a professional competitor and tennis player – winning a Grand Slam and being No. 1 in the world at the end of the season," Djokovic said at the O2 on Friday.

10 November 2019

Today's schedule

Sunday, November 10

Centre Court, play begins at 12 noon

[4] R. Ram (USA) / J. Salisbury (GBR) vs R. Klaasen (RSA) / M. Venus (NZL) [5]

Not before 2pm

[2] N. Djokovic (SRB) vs M. Berrettini (ITA) [8]

Not before 6pm

[2] L. Kubot (POL) / M. Melo (BRA) vs I. Dodig (CRO) / F. Polasek (SVK) [8]

Not before 8pm

[3] R. Federer (SUI) vs D. Thiem (AUT) [5]

10 November 2019

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport's LIVE coverage from the O2 Arena as the season-ending ATP Finals get under way.

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are in singles action today, though those waiting to see the pair face each other will have to wait until Tuesday at the earliest.

Djokovic faces Berrettini this afternoon before Federer and Thiem go head-tohead later...

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