A 1960s Neil Diamond classic often sung on top note in Austrian après ski bars has helped lift Dominic Thiem past a resilient Alexander Zverev to reach his maiden Australian Open final.
Proving his four-hour-plus heroics against world No.1 Rafael Nadal were no flash in the pan at a slam, the fifth seed prevailed 3-6 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(4) to set a showdown with seven-time champion Novak Djokovic.
In a match played under bleak but humid conditions for the first four games, but finished under the roof at Rod Laver Arena, it was seventh seed Zverev who served lights out to take the opening set.
“It’s not easy, I was playing for four hours 10 [minutes] against Rafa, who’s the most intense guy on tour, almost every rally,” Thiem said.
“I was in bed about 5am two days ago so wasn’t easy to recover, but once the adrenalin kicked in, I still had some troubles in the first set. Both our first semifinal here – it was a tough start for me.”
