Dominic Thiem Rallies Past Roger Federer to Win Indian Wells for First Masters 1000 Title
(March 17, 2019) Dominic Thiem prevented five-time winner Roger Federer from winning his 101st title, by claiming his 12th career title and first Masters 1000 title by beating the 20-time major champion 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to win the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Sunday afternoon. The 25-year-old Thiem became the first Austrian since Thomas Muster in 1997 to win a Masters title.
“For me, it’s unreal,” said Thiem. “I enjoyed every second of it. I had to get used to Roger’s game. In the first set, he was playing amazing. I was struggling a little bit, but I fought my way back into the match.”
“It was a very good match until the end. The last two games were amazing.”
Dream Thiem!@ThiemDomi @massunico #BNPPO19 pic.twitter.com/IVdmYRGsbq
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 18, 2019
Dominic Thiem defeated five-time Indian Wells champion Roger Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Sunday to win the BNP Paribas Open, his first ATP Masters 1000 title.
“You deserve it”@rogerfederer ??@ThiemDomi #BNPPO19 pic.twitter.com/eLK1aMmWvR
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 18, 2019
Key game in the match came in the deciding set, in the 11th game when Federer his two poor drop shots in a row which Thiem reached and hit forehand winners.
This was the third year in a row that the 37-year-old Federer had reached the Indian Wells final, last year he lost to Juan Martin del Potro who did not play this year due to injury.
As a result of this week, Thiem will move up in the rankings past Federer matching his career-high No. 4. Next stop for both players is the Miami Open.
