LONDON, Nov 16: Dominic Thiem made sure this year�s ATP Finals didn�t begin the same way last year�s ended.
Thiem outlasted Stefanos Tsitsipas in a rematch of the 2019 final, beating the defending champion 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3 on Sunday in the opening singles match of the tournament inside a largely empty O2 Arena.
In the late match, Rafael Nadal had a much easier time against newcomer Andrey Rublev, beating the Russian 6-3, 6-4 in just 1 hour, 17 minutes.
Nadal is looking to cap a season in which he earned his record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title and 1,000th match win on tour by capturing his first trophy at the ATP Finals. He has qualified for the season-ending event for a record 16th straight year but lost in the final twice and missed six editions because of injuries.
�It�s important to start well, of course, for the confidence, because winning in straight sets helps,� Nadal said.
�I played solid with my serve. I didn�t suffer much, and that helps to play more relaxed on the returns.�
Thiem, who won his first major at this year�s US Open, broke Tsitsipas for a 2-0 lead in the third set with a drop shot at the net and converted his second match point when Tsitsipas sent a forehand wide.
Tsitsipas beat Thiem in a third-set tiebreaker in last year�s final to clinch the biggest title of his career. But he let the first-set tiebreaker slip away this time, after leading 4-1 and 5-3. Facing set point, the Greek failed to put away a fairly simple overhead at the net before sending a lob long to hand Thiem the lead.
�That was the silliest thing that ever happened to me,� Tsitsipas said about his overhead shot.
�I had ball over the net, and I decided to play forehand instead of a smash. I don�t know what kind of decision was that.�
Tsitsipas broke for a 2-1 lead in the second set with a forehand passing shot before levelling the match. He had a chance to break back at 3-1 in the third but netted a backhand, letting out a scream of frustration after the miss. Thiem eventually held serve after a game that went to six deuces, and was never troubled the rest of the way. � AP
