Thiem Sinks Delbonis In Gstaad

Dominic Thiem gained further momentum on Thursday at the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad, overcoming Argentine Federico Delbonis 7-6(8), 6-3 to reach his second tour-level quarter-final in as many weeks.

The Austrian let slip a 5-2 lead in the first set, but took the opener after saving two set points in the tie-break. Thiem then opened his shoulders and hit through Delbonis in the second set to advance after one hour and 57 minutes.

“Every win is so important right now and I got a great energy from my box,” Thiem said in his on-court interview. “They also knew that first set was crucial and the key to the match. I am coming from [reaching] the quarters in Bastad and I really wanted to back it up here in Gstaad.

“I have won two matches which means a lot to me right now. I really need those ranking points. Every match win is something very special.”

The former World No. 3, who saved one match point in his first-round victory against Hugo Gaston, defeated Emil Ruusuvuori and Roberto Bautista Agut en route to his maiden tour-level quarter-final of the season last week in Bastad.

Thiem will be aiming to go one stage further at the ATP 250 clay-court event in Switzerland when he next faces Peruvian qualifier Juan Pablo Varillas. In a rain-disrupted match, the World No. 115 Varillas upset third seed Bautista Agut 7-6(3), 7-5.

“The key moment was that set point save,” Thiem added. “I thought I was playing well the whole match. I was in control in the first set, but then I didn’t play a good game when serving for the set and it was close. He can play really heavy here, especially in altitude. Those two set points saved plus winning that tie-break was the key.”

The 17-time tour-level titlist Thiem has fond memories in Gstaad, having lifted the trophy on his previous appearance in 2015. The last time the 28-year-old won a tour-level crown was at the US Open in 2020.