By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, August 2, 2015
Dominic Thiem won 10 of the final 12 games defeating David Goffin, 7-5, 6-2, to capture his second straight title and third championship of the season.
Photo credit: Valeriano Di Domenico/Swiss Open Gstaad
On the 100th anniversary of the Swiss Open Gstaad, Dominic Thiem continued his coming of age season.
Thiem won 10 of the final 12 games defeating David Goffin, 7-5, 6-2, to capture his second straight title and third championship of the season.
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The 21-year-old Thiem is the first Austrian to collect three ATP titles in a single season since former world No. 1 Thomas Muster claimed seven championships in 1996.
“I returned and served well, which is very important against such a great return player," Thiem said. “Each title is very special. I’m extremely happy that my family was here this week. It’s such a great event here and a beautiful place.”
Twelve months to the day after Goffin defeated Thiem in the Kitzbuhel final, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, the pair squared off again.
The top-seeded Belgian built leads in both sets, but could not sustain them. Goffin surrendered serve just four times in his three victories en route to the final, but his serve let him down today. Goffin double faulted seven times, dropped serve six times and won just 35 percent of his second-serve points.
The first set was a story of streaks as Thiem broke first for a 3-1 lead. Goffin, who plays closer to the baseline and takes the ball earlier, redirected drives effectively reeling off four consecutive games for a 5-3 advantage.
Thiem's heavy topspin shots, particularly his sweeping one-handed backhand, and his skill driving the ball deep on the run helped ignite his comeback.
The 14th-ranked Goffin served for the set at 5-4, but tightened up considerably falling into a triple break point hole. Goffin fought off all three, knocking off a high backhand volley to draw even at deuce. Two points later, Goffin knocked a double fault off the tape to drop serve.
Empowered, Thiem whipped a blistering backhand down the line that lef Goffin, hands on hips, shaking his head. When the Belgian bungled a volley, Thiem took the first set that seemed to be slipping away 15 minutes earlier.
Goffin broke to open the second set, but could not consolidate. The Belgian created several mid-court opportunities but often couldn't find the finishing shot—or get the ball by the streaking Austrian. Goffin netted a mid-court forehand then snaked another double fault off the tape as Thiem broke for 4-2.
"Today it was very difficult, the conditions were very different from the other days," Goffin said. "Dominic's strokes are very heavy and powerful. It was very tough during the whole match. He played some unbelievable points. After losing the first set it was very tough for me physically. It was still a great week for me even if I lost."
The third-seeded Thiem saved a break point then held for 5-2 when Goffin sprayed a backhand wide. An angled forehand drop shot brought Thiem to triple championship point. Thiem plastered a return right off the baseline to end a one hour, 25-minute match in style.