US Open: Thiem, Zverev fight to become next generation champion

For the first time in the last six years, there would be a new US Open champion. And there is going to be a feeling of nostalgia when second seed Dominic Thiem would take on fifth seed Alexander Zverev.

New York: History is already scripted as Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev prepare to take on each other in the US Open final at the Flushing Meadows. It does not matter who is going to win tomorrow, be it Dominic or Zverev, there would be a new tennis star to lift the Grand Slam trophy and in the process ending the monopoly of The Big Three -- Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Thiem vs Zverev, head to head

For the first time in the last six years, there would be a new US Open champion. And there is going to be a feeling of nostalgia when second seed Dominic Thiem would take on fifth seed Alexander Zverev.

The duo has faced each other on many occasions in recent years and the young stars would take their rivalry to a new level on Sunday when both of them would aim to clinch their maiden Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows.

”When you start playing tennis at a young age, the thing that you always wanted to do is play in big tournaments [and] the big finals. I feel like this is the reason I started playing tennis,” Zverev said ahead of the summit clash, before adding “You’ve got to be able to handle it… For me, it was always about the big moments in big tournaments.”

Thiem and Zverev have faced each other 9 times with second-seeded emerging victorious on 7 occasions. Thiem has also clinched their past three matches, including a four-set triumph in this year’s Australian Open semi-finals. To date, it was their best match as both players smashed more winners than unforced errors that night.

Just a few weeks ago, Thiem was rusty as he crashed out of the Western & Southern Open in first round. However, since then the 27-year-old has found his form as well his rhythm. Thiem had won his last three matches without dropping a set. The Austrian showed his mental toughness in the semi-final vs Daniil Medvedev when he saved a set point in the second and third sets to reach the final of US Open.

Unlike his previous attempts in lifting the Grand Slam trophy, when he faced Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, this time he would enter the competition as a favourite. However, the Austrian insisted that he would not think too much about the stats and wants to approach the match with a clean slate.

”I won’t change my mindset at all. I know what Sascha is capable of,” Thiem said. “He’s a hell of a player. One of the greatest ones in [the] past years. Won all titles besides a major. He will also try everything that he’s capable of doing to win the title. It’s going to be a super difficult match."

Speaking about their stats in US Open, Thiem leads the tournament in return games won (32/82, 39%) and he will aim to apply pressure on his German opponent as Zverev's serve has been prone to spurts of double faults.

Zverev, however, masters the art of long baseline rallies and it could serve him well as Thiem would look to avoid reinjuring his right ankle, which he injured in semi-finals vs Medvedev.

Alexander Zverev, popularly knows as the beautiful boy of tennis, has struggled with internal and external pressure in major events. However, the 23-year-old broke the jinx this year, as he reached the last four of Australian Open and now become the youngest to reach the final of US Open since 2008. Before him, Novak Djokovic was the youngest player to reach US Open final in 2008.

If Zverev stuns Thiem on Sunday, he’ll become the youngest to clinch a major trophy since 2009 when a 20-year-old Juan Martin del Potro won his maiden US Open title.

The German displayed his mental toughness when he bounced back after a set and a break down against Borna Coric in the quarter-finals and made a stunning comeback from two sets down against Pablo Carreno Busta to reach the final.

In terms of fitness, Zverev is at his best as the German continued to bounce back in long matches after getting down.

As much as fans love a comeback, Zverev can't afford a slow start vs Thiem as the match goes, statistically, it swings into the favour of the Austrian, who produced a 15-3 record last year in deciding sets.

However, the stats and their previous encounters won't matter when Thiem and Zverev would take on each other for Grand Slam glory.

”It’s the biggest goal and also the biggest dream I’ve had in my tennis career for a few years now,” Thiem said. “Of course, it's pressure for me. At the same time, I try to think not too much about it. If it's not going to happen on Sunday, I have to continue working and maybe get the chance at another Slam. [But] the chance is now… I’ll try everything to make it.”