Top class 💯 @AlexZverev defeats good friend Thiem to move into the last 16 in Halle #TWO23
Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem shouldn't have played in the first round of Halle but some late changes in the put them good friends against them.
Thiem and Zverev are very good friends and have been for years. They count each other among their closest friends on the tennis tour and they share some tennis history together as well. A few years ago, Zverev and Thiem stood in a grand slam final against each other. The German had a 2-0 lead after the first two sets but Thiem managed to come back and win the match in three seconds becoming a grand slam champion.
It's still his only grand slam trophy to date and likely will remain his only one considering his recent struggles with tennis. Zverev is still searching for his own grand slam trophy and that was a painful loss against a very good friend.
Due to some late changes in the draw, Zverev ended up facing Thiem, something that both embraced warmly. It was a solid match, quite competitive but Zverev ultimately proved better taking one break in each set to get it done. It was the continuation of Thiem's struggles and the continuation of Zverev's resurgence.
After the match, we saw the ypical wamr embrace between the friends as they were all smiles. Check it out below.
Top class 💯 @AlexZverev defeats good friend Thiem to move into the last 16 in Halle #TWO23