Dominic Thiem couldn’t discover his type within the season’s opening three months, scoring just one victory and remaining exterior the top-100. Thiem kicked off his favourite spring clay swing in Estoril, surviving the opening spherical and elevating his degree towards Ben Shelton.
Thiem beat Shelton 6-2, 6-2 in 63 minutes for his first quarter-final since October final 12 months. The Austrian felt blissful about his degree, enjoying nicely and wishing for extra in the remainder of the event, liking the circumstances rather a lot.
It was Shelton’s second match on clay, and he couldn’t match the rival’s tempo regardless of a strong begin. The American couldn’t discover free factors together with his serve, making too many errors and failing to impose his strokes. Thiem claimed 57% of the return factors and broke the opponent 5 instances.
Dominic’s serve labored like a attraction, dropping seven factors in eight service video games and by no means going through issues after the encounter’s first recreation. Shelton broke within the encounter’s second recreation with a large forehand earlier than Thiem took cost.
Dominic Thiem feels blissful about his recreation in Estoril.
Thiem seized the second break level within the third recreation with a return winner. Ben misplaced serve once more within the fifth recreation after Dominic’s drop shot winner, and the Austrian held at love in recreation six to cement the benefit.
Thiem earned extra break factors after the American’s wild forehand in recreation seven. Shelton positioned a forehand miles away from the courtroom to expertise a break and fall 5-2 behind. Thiem fired a service winner at 5-2 for a maintain at love, wrapping up the set in fashion.
The younger gun held at the beginning of the second set and couldn’t discover free factors at 1-1, going through three break factors. Dominic transformed the primary with a forehand down the road winner for a 2-1 benefit and cemented the lead with a booming serve within the subsequent one.
Shelton hit a double fault to fall 4-1 behind, and Thiem grabbed the sixth recreation at love with a smash winner. The American clinched the seventh recreation with a service winner, and the Austrian emerged on the high with an unreturned serve a couple of minutes later.
“The upper the ball bounces, the higher for me. The circumstances have been wonderful immediately because of the heat climate. There was no wind, and the courtroom felt quick and dry, taking the spin very nicely. It fits my recreation nicely, and I am excited to achieve the quarter-final.
I am enjoying higher and higher, and this ought to be my a part of the season after a sluggish begin within the opening three months. Ben has performed nicely for the reason that final 12 months. This was his second match on clay, and I drastically revered his serve and athletic talents earlier than our duel. I attempted to make use of my expertise on clay, and every thing went nicely,” Dominic Thiem mentioned.
