Better Than I Imagined (Day 12)

Dominic Thiem (5) v. Alexander Zverev (7)

Day 12 brought me only one match, the last of the semifinal matches. Up to this point I hadn't seem Dominic Thiem or Alexander Zverev play in person. I casually watched them play on television, but wasn't particularly invested in either. In fact, prior to the Australian Open, Zverev blended with Medvedev blended with Shapovalov blended with... Apparently I have issues distinguishing people with v's in their names. My AO experiences definitely changed that for me forever. Self check: I have no right to get frustrated with anyone who looks at my Polish last name and just gives up. 

The Thiem/ Zverev match was such a high for me. The tennis was off the charts amazing. Not that I need to justify any of my ticket purchasing, but this match was well worth the money and then some.  I was actually a bit nervous about this match being so good because it's not uncommon that the quarters and the semifinals are better matches than the finals.  There was so much build up to the final matches that a total engaging, sitting on the edge of my seat, nail-biter of a match made me question whether the final could be as exciting.  To watch someone like Thiem seemingly empty the tank to make it to the final round makes you wonder if it's possible for him to fill that tank back up within 48 hours. The players focus on fueling back up as a mechanism to give them the best chance win a championship, but my focus as a fan is for them to find a way to put on a good show. Winning a match doesn't necessarily equate to putting on a good show (for example: my post on Roanic v. Djokovic).  I wondered if either of these young players had enough physical stamina and/ or enough experience to find a way to push through to win the match in front of them and then be fresh two days later.

After losing the first set, Thiem closed out the next three to win the match. That score report makes it seem like Thiem ran away with it, but the final two sets were decided in tiebreakers. It was a nail-biter. I caught myself legitimately sitting on the edge of my seat and holding my breath during the points. It was exhilarating. I have very few experiences in my life that I was describe as exhilarating, but this was definitely one. It probably sounds really cheesy, but when I left the grounds that night I had a conscious thought, "This is what a major tournament is. This. Tonight." Everything that night felt perfectly in place.