Deciding-Set Dominic: Where Thiem Has Improved In 2019

The world’s best are battling hard for one of the two remaining spots at the Nitto ATP Finals, and the competition will be as intense as ever at this week’s Erste Bank Open and Swiss Indoors Basel, both of which are ATP 500 events. That means that deciding sets will be pivotal with places in London still up for grabs.

One player whose deciding-set efforts in 2019 have helped him secure a spot at the season finale is Dominic Thiem, the top seed in Vienna. The Austrian star had only emerged victorious in 60 per cent of his tour-level deciding sets prior to the season. But excelling in that department this year has helped Thiem craft one of his most well-rounded seasons to date.

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Thiem has won 10 of his 12 deciding sets in 2019, a success rate of more than 83 per cent. That leads the ATP Tour in 2019 for players who have contested at least 10 deciding sets.

2019 Leaders – Deciding Sets Won

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What is most glaring is when those deciding sets have come. Thiem has gone to a deciding set in four tour-level semi-finals, emerging victorious three times. He also went to a deciding set in two championship matches, clinching the title on both occasions. In those title clashes alone — at the BNP Paribas Open and the China Open — he could have earned 600 fewer ATP Ranking points with losses.

The players directly behind him have also enjoyed the best seasons of their careers. Andrey Rublev (78.6%), Alexander Bublik (76.9%), Laslo Djere (72.7%) and Cristian Garin (71.4%) have all reached their career-high ATP Ranking in 2019, and they occupy the second through fifth spots in rate of deciding sets won this season.

The five active players with the best all-time winning percentages in deciding sets are not inside the Top 10 this year. Kei Nishikori (60%), Novak Djokovic (50%), Rafael Nadal (66.7%), Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro lead their peers in this FedEx ATP Performance Zone. Nadal has only played six deciding sets this year, going 4-2 in those matches. Both Murray and Del Potro have played less than 10 deciding sets, mostly because they have missed time due to injury.

Career Leaders – Deciding Sets Won (Active Players)

The only player currently in the Top 8 of the ATP Race To London who has not won at least half of his deciding sets this year is Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has triumphed in 47.8 per cent of those matches (11-12). The Greek has still managed to reach a career-high ATP Ranking of No. 5.

Did You Know?
Thiem won his first ATP Tour title on home soil earlier this year in Kitzbuhel. He has never made it past the quarter-finals in Vienna.