Updated 02:31 AM EDT, Tue, Mar 19, 2024

Dominic Thiem Wins First Argentina Open Title, Defeats Nicolas Almagro

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Austrian tennis sensation Dominic Thiem hoisted the 2016 Argentina Open trophy on Sunday after outlasting Nicholas Almagro of Spain 7-6, 3-6, and 7-6.

Sky Sports reported that the 22-year-old Lichtenworth native now has four career titles to his name, all of which were won on clay courts. It can be remembered that Thiem trumped all competition at the Swiss, Croatian and French Open in 2015.

Thiem's latest triumph in Buenos Aires was a momentous accomplishment on its own, but it also had some equally noteworthy embellishments. Bleacher Report noted that the victory ended the long-standing Argentinian and Spanish win streak at the event.

Association of Tennis Professionals World Tour reporter Josh Meiseles divulged on Twitter that Thiem is the first non-Argentinian/Spanish tennis player to win the tournament in 13 years. The last to do so was Nico Massu from Chile back in 2002.

The Austrian is also the youngest player in the in ATPWorldTour's top 20. He ousted world number five Rafael Nadal to the tune of 6-4, 4-6 and 7-6 (4) to book a championship match against Nicholas Almagro.

Nadal, the tournament's defending champion, needed just one point in the third to advance to the final round. Thiem managed to force a tiebreaker and didn't look back from there, The Star reported.

"It was very tight from the beginning. It's special to play against the big guys, and to beat one is a dream come true," Thiem said after the Nadal match. "In the third set, Nadal really stepped up but I was able to counter-attack and play incredible shots."

Meanwhile, Almagro defeated his compatriot and world number six David Ferrer 6-4 and 7-5 to set up a duel with Thiem.

Almagro was all business after the win. He told media members that his training had paid off, but there's still one final challenge to overcome. The Spaniard added that he wished to maintain the same level of play going into the final match.

It was clear right from the start that it wouldn't be easy for Thiem and Almagro to outclass each other. Neither were able break serve in the first set. The Spaniard got the first break point in the second set and had momentum going into the third.

Thiem gave away two quick points to Almagro at the start of the tiebreaker, but the Austrian didn't lose his cool and won seven of the next nine points to win the 2016 Argentina Open.

ESPN noted that the international tennis circuit will be heading to Rio de Janeiro this week for a joint event by the Association of Tennis Professionals and the Woman Tennis Association.

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