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Felix Auger-Aliassime ended his terrible streak at Majors following an epic 6-3, 7-5, 6-7, 5-7, 6-3 triumph over a former finalist Dominic Thiem in four hours and 59 minutes. The struggling Canadian notched his first Major victory in a year, playing well in the decider and sending the Austrian packing following a thriller.
Auger-Aliassime presented more reliable numbers behind the first and second serve, taming his strokes nicely and hitting a similar number of winners and unforced errors. Thiem gave his best to stay in touch and prolong the battle, needing over two hours to clinch sets three and four before losing ground in the decider.
Dominic grabbed three breaks from eight chances and suffered five breaks from 13 opportunities offered to Felix. They stayed neck and neck in the most extended exchanges, and Thiem forged the lead in the mid-range ones. However, Auger-Aliassime erased the deficit in the quickest exchanges up to four strokes, winning 33 points more than his rival in that segment!
Felix Auger-Aliassime prevailed over Dominic Thiem.
Both players served well in the opening six games, with Thiem landing a forehand crosscourt winner in game six for 3-3. Felix held after deuces in the seventh game and pushed strong on the return in the next one.
The Austrian missed a backhand, losing serve and finding himself 5-3 behind. Auger-Aliassime served for the opener in game nine and fired an ace to clinch the first part of the duel in 45 minutes. Thiem squandered game points at 1-1 in the second set and suffered a break after a backhand mistake.
Felix hit a double fault in game four, bringing Dominic to 2-2 and facing another break point in game six. The Austrian netted a backhand, allowing the Canadian to secure the game home. They served well in the next four games for 5-5 and more drama.
Dominic experienced a massive blow, wasting a 40-0 lead and losing serve in game 11 after a wayward forehand. Auger-Aliassime fired a service winner at 6-5, wrapping up the set and forging a massive advantage in just under two hours.
The third set saw eight comfortable holds for 4-4 before the Canadian earned a break point in game nine. It could have sent him closer to the finish line, but he squandered it and kept Thiem alive.
Felix forged a 5-2 advantage in the tie break before Dominic bounced back, rattling off five points and closing the set with a volley winner, extending the battle after three hours and 11 minutes. With a boost on his side, Thiem clinched an early break in the fourth set and presented four rock-solid holds for a 5-3 lead.
Auger-Aliassime remained competitive, pulling the break back at the last moment in game ten after the rival's smash error and locking the result at 5-5. However, Thiem secured another break in game 11 and fired a service winner in the next one, wrapping up the set and forcing a decider after four hours and 14 minutes.
Felix ended his downfall after saving two break points in the first game, gaining momentum. The Canadian grabbed a decisive break in the second game and fired a forehand winner a few minutes later for 3-0. They served well in the remaining games, and Auger-Aliassime emerged at the top with a hold at 15 at 5-3 after a forehand down the line winner, celebrating his first Major win in a year.