World No.3 Dominic Thiem defeated the No.15 seed Félix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets in the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Thiem will now face Alex De Minaur in the US Open 2020 quarterfinals.

Thiem was in control of the first set 5-4 as he stepped up to serve it out. Subsequently, after a poor service game and a few unforced errors, the Austrian allowed Auger-Aliassime to force the first set into a tiebreaker. However, the No.2 seed Thiem clawed back to win the tiebreaker and clinch the opening set.

The second and the third set were one-sided, with Thiem finishing the match with his trademark shot- a blazing backhand winner.

“Sets two and three were 100 percent the best sets so far for me,” said Thiem during the post-match interview.

Auger-Aliassime was playing in the fourth round of a Major for the first time and had ousted former World No.1 Andy Murray in the second round. Thiem, a three-time Grand Slam finalist spoke highly of the 20-year-old Félix.

“I just beat an amazing opponent, an upcoming superstar.”

With World No.1 Novak Djokovic disqualified, the US Open 2020 is Thiem’s best chance of winning his maiden Slam. However, the 2020 Australian Open runner-up spoke about players not giving much importance to the absence of the Big 3.

“For myself and the other remaining players left in the draw, it doesn’t matter at all if the Big Three are here or not. I think everybody just wants their hands on this trophy,” remarked Thiem, who has lost three Grand Slam finals to Novak Djokovic (Australian Open 2020) and Rafael Nadal (French Open 2018-19).

Dominic Thiem finds US Open 2020 surreal

The US Open 2020 marks only the second instance in the Open-era where no former men’s singles champion has reached the quarterfinal stage. Thiem admitted that it is strange to be one of the oldest guys left in the tournament, given the absence of the Big Three.

Thiem will face the No.21 seed Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinal at Flushing Meadows. The duo has played twice against each other, with Thiem winning both encounters.