Korda edges out Thiem in Antwerp to reach back to back finals

The American will play either Frenchman Richard Gasquet or Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime for the title

October 22, 2022

American Seb Korda edged out Austrian Dominic Thiem 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (4) in a thrilling encounter at the European Open in Antwerp on Saturday, his second straight final on the ATP Tour.

Beaten in the final in Gijon last week, the American came from a break down at 4-3 in the final set to clinch victory and end former US Open champion Thiem’s hopes of breaking back into the world’s top 100 this week.

Korda, ranked No 36, will play the winner of the match between Frenchman Richard Gasquet and Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the second seed.

Gijon – 🥈@EuroTennisOpen – 🏆❓

Back-to-back finals for Korda having navigated past Thiem 6-7 6-3 7-6#EuropeanOpen pic.twitter.com/hlJBDBX7fx
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 22, 2022

“Very happy. It’s very difficult to play against a player like Domi, great battle, but I’m very happy. I think every single game in the first set was 30-30 on each other’s serve. I think the second set was key.”

Korda turns it around

Korda led 4-2 in the first-set tiebreak but Thiem won five straight points to take the set. The American stepped up a level in the second set to take it to a decider but when he put a forehand long, off the net, in the seventh game of the third, it seemed Thiem might go on to win it.

But Korda held firm, went up 4-1 in the tiebreak and this time held on, clinching victory on his second match point, leaving Thiem to head to Vienna next week as he continues to improve, having been off the Tour for nine months.

The 22-year-old American won against Marcos Giron (6-3, 6-7, 6-4), Russian Karen Khachanov, the No 4 seed (7-5, 7-6 (9)) and Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka, the No 8 seed (6-0, 6-2) ahead of his victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Thiem, ranked No 132, beat Belgian wildcard Michael Geerts (6-4, 6-0), Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo, the No 6 seed (6-1, 1-6, 7-5) and Pole Hubert Hurkacz, the top seed (3-6, 7-6 (9), 7-6 (4)).

Antwerp ATP 250, other semi-final result (Lotto Arena, EUR 648.130):