Querrey Battles Back To Beat Thiem At Wimbledon

Sam Querrey twice came within a point of trailing two-sets-to-love on No. 2 Court Tuesday afternoon, but was able to keep his nerve for another upset at The Championships.

The American, who returned last week with a run to the Nature Valley International final in Eastbourne (l. to Fritz), saved two set points in the second set en route to a 6-7(6), 7-6(1), 6-3, 6-0 victory over fifth seed Dominic Thiem of Austria in two hours and 29 minutes.

Querrey saved set points at 4-5, 30/40 and Ad Out in the second set, with a backhand error from Thiem and an ace. The 31-year-old, who lost just seven of his first-service points, booked his place in the Wimbledon second round with his 22nd ace, which denied Thiem the 250th match win of his career. The fourth set lasted 20 minutes.

Having missed the entire spring European clay-court swing with an abdominal injury, Querrey returned at Devonshire Park on the south coast last week, which was his first ATP Tour event since 13 April at the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship. 

Victory for Querrey, who reached the 2017 Wimbledon semi-finals (l. to Marin Cilic), means he has beaten three players in the Top 5 of the ATP Rankings at the All England Club. He beat World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the 2016 third round and then No. 1-ranked Andy Murray in the 2017 quarter-finals.

The 25-year-old Thiem, who has contested two Roland Garros finals (l. to Nadal both times), is now 24-10 on the season. He is currently in fourth position in the 2019 ATP Race To London for a spot at the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held from 10-17 November at The O2 in London.