Young gun Dominic Thiem reached his fifth career ATP final saving two match points as he defeated defending champion Rafael Nadal 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (4) in the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.
Thiem, who in the 2015 season claimed titles in Gstaad, Umag, and Nice, is in pursuit of his fourth career ATP title.
In their only encounter, Nadal had eased through Thiem 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 during the 2014 Roland Garros round of 16.
Nadal, who was looking to obtain his 48th clay court crown, began the first set with a 2-0 lead, which Thiem immediately responded recovering the break.
The 14 time Grand Slam champion was able to escape an early break point threat in 3-3 but was incapable to impress fans with his high percentage of unforced errors.
The Spaniard kept displaying his ongoing erratic behavior as he missed, leading 4-3, a break point opportunity netting a forehand return from a weak Thiem second serve at 30-40.
Subsequently, the 22-year-old did not waste any chances as he grasped the only break point opportunity at 4-4 to take the lead for the first time in the set, which he then capitalized with a strong service game to claim it 6-4.
Both players seemed affected by the heat as the erratic play unfolded by both parties during the first set.
The second set offered a much suitable display by both players as each held serve on nine consecutive games.
However, the Spaniard saved a break point at 3-3 with a blistering down the line forehand winner that enlightened fans at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, which chanted for the nine-time Roland Garros winner.
Nadal took the second set 6-4, as he broke the youngsters serve at at 5-4 30-40.
After an hour and 40 minutes of play, the third set unraveled with a quick break of serve by Thiem, who took a 2-0 lead.
Nadal was able to even the scoreboard 2-2, and both held their serve until reaching the deciding tiebreaker.
However, Nadal was unable to capitalize the win when he had two match points in a long deuce battle as Thiem struggled to win his serve at 4-5.
Nadal began the tiebreaker with a double fault that marked the beginning of the end for the clay court king.
Thiem took an astonishing 6-1 lead in which the Spaniard fought back saving three match points, but it was not enough to overcome the immense deficit, as Nadal finally gave in missing a backhand long that awarded Thiem the tiebreak victory 7-4.
Nadal’s slow start to the year continues as he remains in search of his first title of the year.
