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By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, May 12, 2018

 
Dominic Thiem

No. 5-seeded Dominic Thiem broke to open both sets sweeping Kevin Anderson, 6-4, 6-2, powering into his second straight Madrid Open final.

Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open Facebook

Midway through the second set, Dominic Thiem turned the ball into a slinky sliding a pair of drop shots that left Kevin Anderson looking flat-footed and vacant.

Breaking to start both sets, Thiem deconstructed the lanky South African with deep drives and bamboozled him with touch in a commanding 6-4, 6-2, sweep to storm into his second straight Mutua Madrid Open final.

More: Nadal and Thiem Could Square Off in Rome

Aiming for his first Masters final, Anderson was armed with a perfect 6-0 record against the Austrian as the pair walked on court for their first clay-court clash.




A day after Thiem dethroned Rafael Nadal snapping the top-ranked Spaniard's 21-match clay-court winning streak, he dismantled Anderson with smooth movement, ruthless combinations and unsettling variety raising his 2018 clay-court record to 16-3.

The fifth-seeded Austrian out-aced the big-serving Anderson (5 to 4) and served with more authority throughout. Thiem served 61 percent and won 24 of 28 first-serve points with his only real service struggles coming when he denied triple break point to serve out the set and when he rallied from love-30 down to seal his 25th win of the season.

Thiem takes aim at his 10th career title in tomorrow's final against either world No. 3 Alexander Zverev or 19-year-old left-hander Denis Shapovalov, the youngest men's semifinalist in tournament history.

For the first time in 11 years, Madrid will crown a champion who is not a member of the Big Four.

The last time a man other than Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray won Madrid was back in 2007 when David Nalbandian dispatched Nadal, Djokovic and Federer in succession in a stirring run to the title when the tournament was staged on hard court.

Anderson had dominated Thiem on hard court.

Before a packed crowd that included Hall of Famer Boris Becker, Thiem turned the tables immediately.

Unleashing the same high, heavy returns he deployed vs. Nadal, Thiem tested Anderson in the opening service game. On his third break point, Thiem drew a forehand error ending a nine-minute game with the break.

The 6'1" Thiem is a smoother mover than the 6'8" South African and imposed his advantage in lengthy baseline exchanges backing up the break.

Knowing he needed to shorten points, Anderson powered through a two ace game with a slick serve-and-volley holding in the third game.

Staring down another break point in the fifth game, Anderson saved it stylishly, ending an electrifying rally ladling a low backhand drop volley.

While Anderson, who is fifth on the ATP in service games won and second in aces, was pushed to deuce in draining service games, Thiem was in cruise control.

Thumping his third ace down the middle, Thiem held for 5-3.

Anderson earned triple break point when Thiem served for the set, but the Austrian dug in and answered with hellacious kick serves to set up his first strike. When Anderson sailed his 16th unforced error, Thiem had set point.




Zapping a forehand winner, Thiem dodged the triple break point threat closing the set in 49 minutes.

The US Open finalist needed a fast start to the second set.

It didn't happen. Thiem hit through the big man on a net exchange for break point then broke to open the set.

The man in black brought down the hammer banging his fourth ace for a one-set, 2-0 lead 62 minutes into the match. Given the fact Anderson wasn't gaining much traction in longer baseline exchanges, the deficit felt even deeper.




Thiem tormented the South African with a couple of audacious drop shot winners then drew a wild forehand for another break point. Sliding the short slice to lure the big man forward again, Thiem drew a mis-hit forehand scoring his third break for 4-1 after 77 minutes.




The 24-year-old Thiem closed in 85 minutes with a clenched fist toward his support box that included mom Karin and girlfriend Kristina Mladenovic, the 2017 Madrid finalist.

Earlier this year, Thiem claimed his second Buenos Aires crown. Tomorrow, he'll play for his first Masters 1000 championship with another possible Nadal clash looming next week in Rome.


 

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