By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 27, 2019
Dominic Thiem rallied for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 triumph over sometime doubles partner Diego Schwartzman to capture his ATP-best fifth title of the season in Vienna.
Photo credit: GEPA Pictures Erste Bank Open Facebook
Staring up at the ceiling of the Wiener Stadthalle, a beaming Dominic Thiem realized a decade-long dream flat on his back.
In his 10th appearance at his home tournament, Thiem rallied for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 triumph over good friend and sometime doubles partner Diego Schwartzman to capture his first Vienna championship.
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It is Thiem's 16th career championship.
The 26-year-old Thiem is the first Austrian to rule Vienna since former Top 10 standout Jurgen Melzer earned his second straight Vienna title in 2010 by winning an all-Austrian final against Andreas Haider-Maurer.
Empowered by sweeping strokes, Thiem collected his ATP-best fifth title of the season—and his second on Austrian soil following his Kitzbühel crown in August—reinforcing his reputation as a committed closer.
The top-seeded Thiem raised his 2019 record to 45-16, including an ATP-best 12-2 mark in decisive sets.
On championship point, Thiem danced around his backhand, drilled a diagonal forehand then dropped to the court in joy after a fierce fight that spanned two hours, 25 minutes.
Schwartzman, who fought off Thiem on home soil 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) in the Buenos Aires semifinals last spring, crossed around net to embrace his buddy after a gritty battle before a packed crowd that included Thiem's parents and former world No. 1 Thomas Muster.
Deadlocked at 4-all in the second set, Thiem elevated his game.
The two-time Roland Garros runner-up broke twice in succession sparking a four-game run that saw him snatch the second set and go up 2-0 in the third set.
Thiem pumped nine aces and saved three of six break points to beat his buddy for the fifth time in seven meetings.