Thiem beats Federer in 3 sets to reach Mercedes Cup final

By foxsports
Published

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) Roger Federer squandered two match points and lost to Dominic Thiem 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 in a rain-interrupted Mercedes Cup semifinal on Saturday.

Thiem led 5-0 in the second set before winning the tiebreaker in which he saved the match points for his second straight win over Federer.

Thiem beat Federer in the third round of the Italian Open before Federer took a month off to deal with a back injury. That win was on clay, while Saturday's came on grass, Federer's favorite surface.

Thiem, with three ATP titles this year, reached his maiden Grand Slam semifinals at the French Open, and the Austrian has jumped to No. 7 in the world.

Thiem will play either Juan Martin del Potro or Philipp Kohlschreiber for the title.