Dominic Thiem clinched his second title of the year with a hard-fought victory against Bernard Tomic in Acapulco. The Austrian will add 500 ATP points to his ranking after he defeated Tomic 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 in one hour and fifty-five minutes.
The match had started so well for Tomic as the Australian won more of the early baseline exchanges, and was rewarded with the first break of serve, breaking in game four when Thiem missed a forehand. The momentum changed near the end of the set as Thiem held to love, forcing Tomic to attempt to serve out the set. The Australian failed to do so, Thiem breaking to love, and then holding by the same score to level up. Thiem used his change in form to take the tiebreak and the set in the players first career meeting.
Tomic did well to put the disappointment of the first set behind him, as he once again earned the early lead in the second. Thiem tried to fight back, and had break points in successive Tomic service games late in the set, but this time the Australian held firm to force a decider.
Both men began to post miserable numbers on second serve points won in the third, with neither able to win more than 29%. Tomic proved only average on first serve with 63% points won, whilst Thiem produced a dominating 80%. Tomic again had the early lead, but this time surrendered it quickly, and would win just two more games as Thiem quickly took control of the set and match, breaking for the lead and then successfully serving for the title.
500 ATP points will see Theim climb to a career-high ranking of No.14, and within striking distance of the Top 10. Bernard Tomic will earn 210 points after improving on his quarter-final effort last year that had yielded him 90. He will move back into the Top 20, but will not reach his career-high ranking of No.17.
Thiem on his title run, and his overall form: “These three weeks have been amazing. Winning my first 500 title and first hard-court title, it was just perfect. It was how a final should be, between two young and up-and-coming players. I hope we’re going to play many more finals together. Both of us wanted to win so badly and I’m happy I was the one today.”
Tournament Round-up: David Ferrer shrugged off concerns over his form, claiming exhaustion after his second- round exit to Alexandr Dolgopolov. The Ukrainian proved his return to form with a semi-final run. Steve Johnson’s poor start to the year continued, but Sam Querrey looks back to something like his best form, reaching the semi-finals. Taylor Fritz continues to impress after reaching the quarter-finals after wins against Jeremy Chardy and Victor Estrella Burgos.
