Thiem reflects after stunning Nadal to reach Australian Open semi-final: "I felt I was lucky in the right situations"

Dominic Thiem produced brilliance to defeat Rafael Nadal and move through to the Australian Open 2020 semi-finals.

Thiem spoke afterwards and said that for most of the match, he had luck on his side but that he needs that against Nadal and that it was not only a good match for the spectators but also for the players.

“All the match was on a very good level, we both were in great form, that’s what can happen with two players in that form,” declared a delighted Thiem.

“I felt I was lucky in the right situations. It’s necessary as he’s one of the greatest of all times, one of the biggest legends in this sport, so you need a little luck to beat him.”

“We already had this epic match in New York,” said Thiem, on their US Open 2018 quarterfinal thriller.

“I just wanted to stay in the match. I got the break and it came to 5-4, which was a special situation for me, serving for the match against Rafa, for my first semifinal at the Australian Open. It was such a mentally tough situation, I couldn’t handle it!

The Austrian also spoke about what it was like to serve out the match against the Spaniard after nearly being sent all the way to a fifth set: “It was a little ‘demons in the head’ like Roger (Federer) said,” added Thiem.

“Rafa made it so tough, he got it to five-all and the match starts at zero again.

“But I managed to turn it around again … that’s tennis, you have to deal with these big situations and I’m very happy.”

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