Dominic Thiem Outlasts Andy Murray to Reach Semifinals of China Open 2019

No.1 seed Dominic Thiem secures a place at the semifinals of the China Open 2019 as he cruises past the former world No.1 Andy Murray in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 after nearly 2 hours in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Set one

Dominic Thiem started to trouble Andy Murray on his service game from the first game of the match. The Briton saved three break points before he was broken while facing the fourth breakpoint. The 32-year-old then earned an opportunity to break back in the fourth game of the opening set but he squandered his only breakpoint chance of the set.

The Austrian again took charge in the seventh game of the match as he broke Murray’s service game for the second time to get a lead 5-2. While receiving to stay in the set, Andy Murray saved four set points but Dominic Thiem eventually had the last laugh as he claimed the opening set 6-2.

Though the scoreline looked one-sided, the set saw many long rallies as it took 51 minutes to complete the set.

Set two

Dominic Thiem took the momentum in the next set as he broke Murray in his opening service game of the set. The two players held their service games quite comfortably till 5-4 when Thiem was serving for the match and Andy Murray fought hard to break back and get back on serve.

The set was then forced to go through the tiebreaker as both the players held their crucial service games. The Austrian took hold of the tiebreaker, winning it 7-3.

The 26-year-old will face the No.4 seed Karen Khachanov in the semifinals of the Beijing Open 2019. Earlier, Khachanov defeated Fabio Fognini in three sets 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.

While Andy Murray will now head to Shanghai to participate at the Shanghai Masters 2019 next week. This will be Murray’s third tournament in three consecutive weeks.