Day 2 - Dominic Thiem v Grigor Dimitrov Tennis: World Tour Finals

All in form of their lives.

Hello, Rafa will take to the courts

here but coming up we have two

outstanding shot makers with

contrasting styles to entertain us

as Grigor Dimitrov takes on Dominic

Thiem.

Delighted to say Andrew Castle and

Tim Henman are with us again so Rafa

takes to the court but comes in here

with the injury pulled out of Paris

it is not ideal preparation for him

is it

It is not. If you said to

every player you can only go on the

court if you are 100% healthy we

wouldn't have an event. There will

be niggles at the end of the year,

so fingers cross it is a niggle

rather than injury, given his style

of play, the way he move, how much

sort of strain it puts through his

knee, if it is injury it makes it

very difficult. I am optimistic, he

has never won this event and

hopefully he can put on a great

show, not just tonight the whole

tournament.

We talked about Roger,

what about Rafa? In particularly at

the French, winning it ten times,

will we see that again?

There

There

is few numbers they have produced

and Novak, one of them is the ten

French Open, coming in, the Open era

from 1968 nobody had won a single

event ten times. Rafa did ten

Barcelona, ten Monte Carlo and a

tenth French Open. It is

extraordinary. I asked him about his

knee and he said if, he gave a cute

sheepish look and said I'm here. Is

your knee going to be OK? Hopefully

he will be but he was talking about

this event being on play, he --

clay, he feels hard don by it is not

on clay, if they were we would have

won every one, that is why he is

moaning about it. He has a point.

He

has. We may discuss that later Roger

had his say, he was on court and we

saw him go through, last night it

was the player that is leading the

next generation in action and

Alexander Zverev, very impressive

last night. Andrew, I know you saw,

3-1 he was to Cilic, and showing

heart and fight.

20 years old.

Six-and-a-half foot tall. Very

composed. Knows how to handle a big

crowd and opponent in Marin Cilic.

3-1 down, got bad tempered, wasn't

afraid to go toe to to with his

opponent down the other end and to

demonstrate that he is a character

that is comfortable out there, had a

word with umpire to apologise for

any aggravation, he looks to me the

real deal. His backhand is out of

this world.

Big serve, big crowd. He certainly

has a big future, that was vast

night so Roger and Zverev unbeaten

in the Boris Becker group. Today

it's the Sampras group. We have

Dimitrov against Thiem and Rafael

Nadal taking on David Goffin. These

are three great shot makers Rafa

has.

Yes, very much so, and, you

know, you look at the year Rafa has

had, he is clear favourite or

certainly the best player in that

group. This opening match we have

got today, with Thiem and Dimitrov,

it's a great opportunity. This is

Dimitrov's debut at the end of year

Championships, and he has had a

fantastic year, a lot of success on

hard courts. Watching Roger play

yesterday, felt the court was a bit

quicker, I think that could favour

Dimitrov, but Thiem is so dangerous

from the back of the court. Probably

the biggest combination of ground

stroke, forehand and backhand, so he

will look to dictate the play as

well.

And the battle of the

single-handed backhands, that is a

rarity, isn't it?

If you are going

to teach a bark hand it wouldn't be

single backhand. A very important

shot, Dimitrov's backhand slice. I

have never seen a kid hit it as

hard. I think Gregor, the way he

uses the slice, it is important,

this was the match I was looking

forward to most of all, in this

group, because if Rafa is fit, I

have to think he will be the guy to

go through, and I think this is the

play off for the second position.

They haven't even hit a ball in the

group and we are working out the

scenarios, it could be a great

match, Gregor will like the pace of

this court. It looked quick

yesterday.

When you look at the

youngsters, Zverev, that is the way

the game will evolve, big hitters?

We see less variety, less as of the

players come ocean to the net.

Dimitrov for me, has a lot of tools

to his trade. A lot of strings to

his bow, it is whether he can use

them at the right time. To change

the pace against Thiem to keep the

ball low out of his hitting zone and

maybe finish the point and maybe

serve and volley a bit, just to

break up the rhythm, it is going to

be a challenge for him today, but I

do think he has a good chance.

Thiem

seems to be more suited to clay

though, isn't he.

Thiem on a clay

court is unbelievable. Gregor lost

to him the one time they played on

the clay. On this surface I think

you have to favour Gregor coming in,

this is a new mature man, it is not

the guy back in 2012 and 2013 that

had his mind on everything but the

tennis, he is settled this year and

we are seeing the best of him now.

Dimitrov will get into a Grand Slam

final and really push on. He will

love this atmosphere, because he

just loves the big show.

Absolutely.

Don't we love seeing these behind

the scenes shots as the players make

their way, he is making history, the

first Bulgarian to get through to

the final. He says he is super happy

and super pleased to be here. He

missed out getting into the finals

by one spot a few years ago, he is

so looking forward. Such a popular

player, he will get a huge ovation.

From Bulgaria whereia Grigor

Dimitrov.

Ladies and gentlemen, playing at the

ATP finals for the second year in a

row, winner of eight ATP world

titles, from Austria Dominic Thiem.

Players on court. Dimitrov in the

build up there, Dominic Thiem did

the impossible this year, didn't he,

he beat Rafael Nadal on clay.

He

did.

Final of Madrid I think it was,

and yes, it is incredible,

incredible effort. Clay is his best

surface, when you are that powerful

and that explosive from the back of

the court, really can work on any

type of surface, he has the

experience of having played here

last year, he won one lost two

matches in his group stage, for me

with Dimitrov taking his debut, the

first five or six games can be

important for him to settle down. He

needs doe a good job of focussing on

serve, making sure he hits his spot

so he can keep the rallies

shorterment Thiem will look to try

and bully him from the back of the

court.

As far as Dimitrov goes he

loves the big stage, he said he

wants to come out here, he loves

this atmosphere.

Grigor has

something to say about every

situation, he has got a shot for

every occasion, sometimes it is

consistency has let him down, now he

is 26 he has had a bit of wild

living, he has had a bit of that

early 20s feeling where you think

you are the going to be alive

forever, now he has settled. His

tenth year on tour. Looking forward

to this one.

Welcome to the ATP

finals. We will do a quick picture

facing that way after the toss, so

this is heads, which would you like.

Heads, go ahead.

Heads it is.

Serve.

Good match.

So a picture will be taken and then

we will be off with this one, but

for most of these players the last

few months having matched their

strong start for the year, but both

Thiem and Dimitrov come in with

their highest career ranking, aiming

for the biggest prize in their

careers so far.

Reward for that year, for my team,

so many times I was close, but never

able to, yes, to convert to be out

here, but this time I was safe

through it, and I am looking forward

to it.

I didn't expect to be back

for a second time in a row, that is

why I look forward a lot and

hopefully enjoy the bit more than

last year and not be that nervous.

Dominic is, he has been playing well

throughout the whole year, pretty

much on all the surface, he is the

type of player that doesn't shy away

when he gets out on the court and

really goes for his shots. Super

dangerous, it doesn't matter where

in the court he is going to be, he

can always find a which to pull the

trigger and have a heavy ball

behind.

Big show man, it is great

fun to play against him. He is

coming up every match with great

shots and I think it is great start

to the Monday when we play each

other.

So lit between the two. You look at

their head-to-head this year, they

played twice and Dimitrov won the

first one, then had match point,

think five match points but Thiem

came back and won on clay.

It will

be interestingches I was giving

Thiem a Masters 1000 title. He beat

Rafa in the semifinal not the final.

But no, I think that was an

impressive performance from Dimitrov

on clay, you would have felt that he

is where Thiem is the favourite. He

is a bit quicker, I think it

emphasises the point we talked about

this year, how evenly matched they

are, so today, on this type of

surface indoors, you know, could the

balance swing Dimitrov's way? I

think so. It is going to as is the

case boil down to who can create the

opportunity, we saw in Federer's

match, he had five break points

second set. Couldn't take anything,

who can dominate the big points?

He

has lost some matches Thiem when he

has had chance, particularly the US

Open against Del Potro.

It is all

very well coming out at 19, 21,

having the biggest ground stroke, it

is how you manage the game, how you

put the team together, how yolk look

after your training, getting all

those matches in the tank where you

lose some and win some and learn, he

is beginning to turn into that all

court player that we were looking

for, obviously clay is a big deal.

He has a great coach on his side as

has Dimitrov. He is still developing

as a player.

That is where Dimitrov

has taken a bit longer to mature, he

is 26. It feels like he has been

round for a long time. This is the

first time he has qualified. It is

those pieces of the puzzle of his

game that has taken longer to fit

together, to understand what work,

learning from the losses, and

certainly winning in Cincinnati

Masters 1,000 for his fist fighting

with would have given him

confidence.

We got a shot of one of

the coaches, he has been a big

impact in Dimitrov's life. Dimitrov

went to him and they had a

heart-to-heart, a serious talk, he

said, and Danny, he said you deserve

to be toe to toe with the very best

and you have to learn to be patient,

and that really made a big

difference in his game.

Also the

structure to his life. The way he

practises on the practice court, the

way he trained in the gym, really to

get everything working, because when

you break it down, shot for shot,

his athletic abilities, he is a

phenomenal move mover, he can

volley, he wasn't really getting the

returns for the games he had. That

is where Danny had a great impact

and the results have shown this year

on the court.

You have to click with

your coach you look the rank, he has

gone from 40 to number six.

When you

hit 40 we were going that is

ridiculous, he is clearly a top 15,

top 20 player, even if he just shows

up, now I see him as a legitimate

Grand Slam possibility every single

time and a potential winner here. He

played one of the matcheses of the

year to begin this year. He was

16-1. He won Brisbane. Australian

Open against Rafa, it was

unbelievable. So you know, he has

arrived with Danny, to win this

event and to continue doing the work

and also Roger Rashid who worked

with him before, he had input.

Everyone is a work in progress, you

can't just turn up an win a slam at

18. Both guys potential world number

one, who is next when the big boys

move off? Here we are. At least two

of them any way.

So many exciting

players, maybe that is what Grigor

's generation are saying.

Because of

his style of game and the way he

play, there has been unfair

comparison with Federer, and think

it probably was a weight on his

shoulders, with the other young

players coming up, that motivated

him to say I need to be part of that

koonerisation and rightly so. They

have had a great year, I am sure he

is capable of backing it up next

year irrespective of what happens.

You need a tactician, I don't think

people give Danny enough credit

working with Danny -- Andy Murray.

He was part of that journey for a

long time. Huge learning curve for

Danny off the court, it was a

learning curve for Andy on the

court, Danny has been able to work

with a couple of other players in a

short period of time. But this

relationship with Grigor has

certainly cemented well, and I am

sure will go on for many more years.

He is a great athlete, he will need

to be today, because he will be hit

by a barrage from the other side, in

every department, isn't he.

Yes,

absolutely right. I think the

combination of power forehand and

backhand, there is no-one hits the

ball harder than Thiem. Dimitrov

will need his defensive skill, keep

the ball back in play when he can,

he has to look to dictate with his

weapons as well.

We would love to

hear from you as well if you want to

get in touch with us on social

media. We will talk about how

excites you in the world of tennis,

maybe away from the top ones we have

seen in recent years but two of the

very best are on court at the

moment, very contrasting styles but

it promises to be entertaining. We

would love to hear from you, now it

is time for me to hand over to Andy.

Thank you very much. This with a

match particularly I was looking

forward to from this group. I hope

people at home feel the same way. So

Monday afternoon and off we go with

the Sampras group. Headed by Nadal,

Nadal Goffin later

you can sense the excitement here.

Two great player. Dimitrov serving

to Thiem.

That is the classic one two punch.

To dictate play.

UMPIRE:

Ball is called out.

Second serve, spinning, you can see

why the line judge would call that

out. It had such a lot of work in,

it was going through the air slowly

and curling in with the spin.

Sort

of out for 99% of its journey.

Feels like that flying into Heathrow

sometimes!

Final 1% is important in both plays.

Very important. Small target, seems

like.

Double fault in the end.

How many

faults were there? Must have

served...

Can serve six serves.

And

not get the point going.

Get one of them in and still serve a

double fault.

I think that is right.

That is his favourite shot, that is

the one he would name as the shot

that gives him the most joy,

backhand down the line. Magnificent

ball striking from both these

player, just been looking forward to

it, because they play with a lovely

grace. If there was one thing that I

would say about Dominic Thiem I am

surprised he doesn't block the ball

back in to play particularly off

first serve like Federer. We are

looking back to Dimitrov at

Cincinnati. He won that Masters 1000

series without dropping a set. The

lovely variation with the serve, if

he is putting it on a six pence, he

is pretty tough to break.

Been with a success of players, must

have been 25, 30 years out there.

That is evidence of some physical

work being done there, not so easy

to knock Grigor Dimitrov off playing

surface these days, he controls the

space around his baseline well.

Playing the ball rather than

allowing ball to blame.

-- play him.

That is the danger of this slice, if

it is too short.

Another three or four foot and he

probably wouldn't have been able do

ta with the forehand. Not so easily.

Is that a Beckham?

I hope it wasn't, he should be in

school.

I hope so, it is not the

half-term, is it?

Thiem looking to be aggressive on

first and second, but 0 for seven

first serves in this game.

It gives Dimitrov a great early

point opportunity.

There we go.

Christina Mladenovic.

Got some first serves going in the

end.

Only made three of 12 first serves

but when it went in, three cheap

points won them all.

Up the other end of the court, just

under 90% first serves from

Dimitrov.

A good match this. Had to work hard

did Dominic Thiem the world number

four whose younger brother we just

saw there. Great to see him for a

second time here in London.

There he is the world number four.

Nadal was saluted on court yesterday

as the year end world number one.

Roger Federer could have made

himself a part of that particular

contest by playing well in Paris and

playing well here, but his body wa

not allow him to compete in Paris.

Roger had to pull out just to rest

himself and get ready for this and

that's the nature of being 36 years

of age, but Dominic Thiem has got

many, many years ahead of him. The

girlfriend is watching on. Quite a

star couple. Former world junior

champion, Christina. But consistency

from Dominic Thiem and maturity in

his game as he continues to add

elements that are going to elevate

him to the very, very top, top one

or two.

And this is the court movement you

were talking about, Tim.

It is just phenomenal foot speed and

talking about not giving up until

the ball has bounced twice. Great

lesson for young players watching.

Nicely done. Excellent footwork.

That was slicing a great deal. He

wasn't exactly sure what was going

to go on with that squash up from

Dimitrov. Bashing his forehand into

the corner. This one, you just see

that lovely footwork from Thiem. He

doesn't want to go 0-30 down. It is

warming up nicely this match.

He's not the tallest guy out there.

Certainly seeing the two big men

play last night. He still can get

after that first serve.

It's the second one of those we have

seen and clearly a game plan that

Dimitrov has taken out after

speaking to his coach.

Really impressive serving, it is not

as if Dimitrov is just rolling the

first serve in, he is hitting his

spots and hitting it at pace. 86%

finding their mark.

Something has aflited him over the

years is just a slight variation

when he doesn't want it in where the

ball toss goes. He has slowed the

motion down over the last couple of

years and the ball toss, very

deliberate now and quite precise.

Sometimes he rushed and sometimes

the knee bend used to be a little

bit heavier and deeper than was

helpful at times.

It was right to be called out last

time he a backhand down that line.

This one here, it is tough for a

line judge. And he has got it right

again!

This guy is a legend on the line.

Don't ever question him again.

So he has wrapped that one around

the frame. Dimitrov keeps his nose

in front 3-2 and we're already

joining group Pete sam pass. Nadal

leads. He is world number one and he

is right up at the top. He plays

Goffin later on. Each one of those

as Sue Barker was saying, each one

is playing at a career high at the

moment. Zverev having been 3-1 in

the decider and Jack Sock lost 4 and

6 in the opening match. We on the

BBC have got eight full days of

this. The final is next Sunday

afternoon. It's the top eight in the

world only. It is the season ending

finale. Two groups of four. And then

a final on Sunday as I say. You made

this event how many times?

Two-and-a-half times. I played as a

reserve once.

You got in and played?

Yes. And twice in Hannover. Once in

Houston.

Was that 2003 and 2004?

2004 was Houston. The other ones

were, I finished eighth once for

Sydney and I had to pull out with

shoulder surgery which was not great

timing, but fantastic event to be a

part of.

Agassi won in Houston in

2003 and Hewitt in 2004 in Houston.

Who did you play? You can't

remember, can you?

I played, I beat

Macquarie and lost to Safin and

there is another match that I will

remember eventually.

Answers on a

postcard!

Andy Roddick, I think.

Somebody will

tell us!

It is a little ambitious. Dimitrov

doesn't want to give the court. A

heavy deep ball to be whipping

ground strokes off. He kind of up

had the upper hand in the rally and

you felt he could have taken a risk

and moved forward.

Wow.

Dimitrov is in full flow. Quite a

sight.

Beautiful.

There is a bit of something on that

slice, wasn't there? Really dug down

on the return of serve.

It was a

good return because it was a big

second serve. Dimitrov really did

well to get his racket behind the

ball and get some penetration on the

chip.

The second serve misses as well. He

is having a torrid time serving just

about 27%, six of 22.

When it does go in, seven of seven.

And there is the slice again on the

return.

But it is not just a slice,

there is some work and some energy

on the ball. He fizzed it back. It

is a useful shot for him.

I just think Dominic Thiem should be

adding that to his game. It is

something we have seen Federer

dismantling big servers with for

years.

It is like a volley

technique. Get the ball back in

play, but with interest.

The coach of Rafael Nadal doing a

bit of scouting. Nadal is playing

tonight. World number ones scattered

all over The O2.

That's mummy Thiem.

Well, how was that? I mean there are

drive volleys which are more

conventional than that one. Really

no more than a flick on the backhand

side. Thiem miles behind the

baseline and that was a sweet touch.

I think given, this is a great shot,

we talk about many drive forehands,

but drive hack band a tough shot.

With Thiem's court position you

would think that Dimitrov would like

to get forward even more.

Useful

serve. Thiem challenging.

Walking to

the other side. He doesn't seem too

confident.

It's away. Thiem too far behind the

baseline once again and Dimitrov

playing game seven. He will be

delighted to have backed up a break

of serve. A couple of first serves

at the right time. His serve

percentage has dropped off a little

bit, Dimitrov, but found the mark on

those big points. Showing great

intensity and a high level of play

and this is his debut at the year

end championships. Clearly both

players have done the work, but for

Dimitrov, ten years on tour and

finally here and this discipline and

maturity that he has brought from

the practise court really since Dani

Vallverdu was brought on board and

is really paying off. 26 years of

age. Started the year ranked at 17

and now number six. He got as high

as number eight in the world in

2014, that was the year you might

remember he beat Andy Murray, the

defending champion at Wimbledon.

And then lost the semifinal at

Wimbledon without producing his best

tennis on a very windy day against

Novak Djokovic so that's the calibre

of the play that he's capable of.

Big crowds in for every session

here. The singles match and a

doubles match in each session. The

Bryans beat Suarez and Jamie Murray

earlier.

30% first serve percentage, 32%.

Definitely not good. With the first

serve first serves he missed.

It is quick. 130mph. And it enables

Thiem to ask the question in this

game. And if your ball toss is going

to go squiffy and if you are going

to get uptight on the serve, now

would be the time. You don't like to

tempt fate with these things, but

it's an area that Grigor Dimitrov

hasn't always been the strongest at,

closing out.

There you go. Decent start.

A bit of adrenalin in the first

122mph.

Very tidy.

Miles out. Soaring over the back

hoarding and Grigor Dimitrov holds

to love much to the delight of his

many Bulgarian fans here in London.

He has got a cheer squad and he will

react as well as any player to a

cheering squad because he's putting

on a fine show and there is nothing

he likes more than playing in front

of a lot of people. Let's see if you

can make something of these numbers,

Tim. These graphics I find quite

difficult to read, but you can have,

right, winners, OK more more

Dimitrov than for Thiem. That isn't

a surprise. Unforced errors, they

both made more.

Points one on serve,

they are talking about first and

second serve there, but when you

break that down, dehit 67% of first

serves which is a good number. And

he won 89% of those points. 16 out

of 18 first serve points won for

Dimitrov. That's a great platform

playing on a relatively quick indoor

court. Dimitrov getting so many

looks at Thiem's second serve.

Getting into the baseline rallies.

Dimitrov winning his fair share.

First serves in 37%, we have been

highlighting that throughout the

course of that set. First set points

at 91%. Even when they go in...

He

only made 11 first serves in that

set.

Neither player doing

particularly well, not above 50%. It

is like a game you put ten pence in

the 70s and 80s trying to work out

what the graphics are saying.

Dimitrov is doing a good job on

serve, but giving up few

opportunities. Thiem not getting a

break point and as you say, with

that ball toss, I think sometimes it

can just go a little bit left. It

goes over his left shoulder, but in

that last game, an impressive effort

to finish the set off.

Obviously along with a few

footballers in Bulgaria, he is just

a massive global star, Dimitrov. And

it takes time to settle into that

and find your way in the world.

Dimitrov has certainly settled into

stardom now. The first set in this

group has gone to Dimitrov and Thiem

serving a set down.

It is interesting to look at the

backgrounds of these players.

Dominic Thiem, his mum is here.

Dimitrov's bad was a professional

coach. You have to come from an

athletic background at the very top

level.

-- dad. It certainly helps.

I don't like it when players get

written off when they are too young

if their parents were not involved.

It is probably a bit too much of a

slave to that.

Absolutely nailing the volleys,

Dimitrov when he comes in.

You cannot give Dominic Thiem time.

When he has a chance, anything at

the height of the net or just above,

he's getting his racket through.

You wonder from Thiem's point of

view, had no impact on Dimitrov's

serve, when does he start to do

something different, is there a Plan

B or is he saying I have to do Plan

A better?

I wonder whether he does have

another option.

For me he might be better off

standing a long way back on the

first serve and moving in on the

sefrked and he does the opposite,

stands closer for the first serve

and goes a lot further back.

That one Kuznetsov completely

different because he is 40-0 down,

why not? Why would a player like

Thiem go out there, and move back on

a second serve, and start wailing

from the back of the court. That is

the Nadal approach but that is

laugh.

He has big swings so he likes

to have a bit more time, but the

second serve is the one opportunity

he has to attack.

Staying in on this one Thiem.

All this advice you give out for

free, you could be a consultant. You

wouldn't have to spend those week

tonnes road! Expensive one!

He will keep an eye on you, Gunter

Bresnik, he has a good job.

Talk about players by proactive or

reactive, in the first set, Thiem

was very reactive, he was letting

Dimitrov dictate. Now being a bit

more aggressive.

First set persang getting better. He

is 2-1. This is the season ending

finale, just eight men in this

event, but looking back, at the nine

Masters 1000 series events that

offer the most point, computer

points outside of the Grand Slams,

let us like there. Indian Wells on

the hard court, after Australia and

a couple of European indoor events.

Roger Federer, a winner there to his

extraordinary start to the year, he

beat Stanislas Wawrinka and Rafael

Nadal. Then it was on to the clay

and a tenth title for Nadal over the

left-hander Ramos Vince has. In

Madrid he beat Thiem. Thiem unable

to compete on the Spanish clay, not

the first person it has to be said.

Rome Zverev delivering one of those.

Dimitrov, didn't lose a set at

Cincinnati, preUS Open. He beat Nick

Kyrgios in the final. Won that

tournament. In Shanghai indoors

Roger Federer over Nadal, a final we

could see here and Jack Sock

qualified and got into the top ten

of the world winning in Paris. Sock

won it and all the way from 24th in

the world to the top eight.

Brilliant effort.

Indian Wells was the Masters 1,000

tournament of year.

Indoors Roger Federer over Nadal, a

final we could see here and Jack

Sock qualified and got into the top

ten of the world winning in Paris.

Sock won it and all the way from

24th in the world to the top eight.

Brilliant effort.

Indian Wells was the Masters 1000

tournament of year.

Bit nor

aggressive, consistent from the back

of the court. Significant turnout.

-- bit more.

Oh!

As is often the case when you get

behind in the count you look to be

more aggressive, and great footwork

from Dimitrov to get round his

backhand and unleash this forehand.

Look at this, skip, skip, skip.

Businessman. -- bam.

Dimitrov's first serve percentage

that was dropping off in this set.

But right when he needed it three

first serves in a row.

It is easy in the big moments to

thrift back in to old habits and big

point there, you felt that Thiem was

moving further and further behind

the baseline. Giving Dimitrov more

time to dictate.

UMPIRE:

Game Dimitrov.

Two games all.

Thiem didn't have break point but

the first time he has got stuck into

Dimitrov's service game.

There is that slice again.

Wearing red today but Biggs Chelsea

fan. -- but big Chelsea fan. He

normally plays in Halle before the

Championships. Went to the England

game, 0-0 against Germany.

UMPIRE:

Game Thiem. Thiem leads 3-2.

So pretty much getting on with this

match, just the one hour up on the

clock, 6-3 first set to Dimitrov.

Further evidence that this court is

quite quick, that will suit Federer,

in the other group. Tonight David

Goffin the Belgian star, is playing

against Rafael Nadal.

Tomorrow we will revert back to the

other group, which is the Boris

Becker group.

Jack Sock will be pretty much in a

must win situation, but it's the top

two from each group that go through

to the semifinals, so the winner of

one group plays the oner up from the

other, in the semifinals. Been here

since 2009. In London at the O2 and

pretty much every session sold out.

You have play on that court, haven't

you, you played here? But not in

the, not the the tournament as such.

You were drafted in to play an

exhibition.

Yes, when Federer pulled

out in the final against Djokovic,

and had the pleasure of partnering

Pat Cash, and we took on Andy Murray

and John McEnroe.

And Mac was

competitive. What is new?

We came

second.

You are being nice.

Better

than third.

Feels like a big arena when you are

playing on that surface, doesn't it?

Big arena and a lot of space round

the court.

How does change things if you walk

on to a court and there is lots of

space round the playing arena?

I

felt it made the conditions seem a

bit slower. When you look at the

distance between the advertising

hoardings and the baseline, that is

is a long, long way. For me trying

to come to the net, didn't

necessarily like that, when you play

on a small compact court it always

felt a bit quicker.

Funny isn't it perception.

Dangerous moments once again on the

Dimitrov serve.

Love 30 in the last game, Thiem,

Dimitrov was able to come up we the

three first serve, he now needs to

find the mark. Again pretty rapidly.

Oh.

Gutsy shot. A

Not easy a rising

ball the a single backhand to get

over it.

There can be nothing half hearted

about that.

Full commitment.

Down 2-3, love 30.

Thiem treats again on second serve.

That is is a bad miss, though, isn't

it. You can argue whether that is

the right tactics or not and they

will have talked about it, Bresnik.

On an indoor court it puts you in a

negative position. On slower

surfaces when you are going to take

the attitude you will grind your

opponent out, maybe, but I think he

has to make it happen more here.

Danny. Grew up with Andy Murray,

tennis wise at academy in Spain.

Worked with and alongside Andy

Murray to many of his success,

working with Dimitrov now.

Is

Really doesn't matter how hard

you are hitting the ball, he has to

be a good ten feet behind the

baseline, Thiem. It gives Dimitrov

so much time to see the ball,

irspeck tiff of how fast it is

coming.

-- irrespective.

Respective of how fast it is coming.

-- irrespective.

That was set up by a good first

serve, but when he establishes

himself on the rally, that is when

he has to be Agassi.

There is a light right behind Thiem.

Dimitrov will be looking at the

server, it is somebody's camera.

Dimitrov getting on with it.

Dominic Thiem has had his chances in

this set. Trying to go three sets

is. We saw one last night between

Marin Cilic and Alexander Zverev, he

is by far the youngest player here

at 20, but with a backhand and

forehand but his backhand is a thing

of beauty, so that is in the other

group. Two single-handed backhands

on parade here, we are missing a lot

of player, Stanislas Wawrinka called

an early end so his season. You will

have seen him hitting a couple of

cans over, I know you are not on

Twitter, at least he is back out on

court. The big concern for British

tennis fans is Andy Murray, and you

were with him at the live event in

Glasgow, earlier on, or last week

now, how was he moving, did you

speak to him, is there anything you

can tell us we don't know?

He is

working incredibly hard as you have

come to expect and doing so much

strength work in the gym, to build

up the stability, I guess in the

hip, and it was great to see him out

on the court. I still think he has a

way to go when he played Roger in

Glasgow, we all know about the hip

injury now, so I think we are a lot

more an lit #k58, critical the way

he has walked. His has always walked

with a bit of a limp, there is more

of a limp. Once gets into the points

he's was moving OK, he still has a

good window of training, rehab, to

get ready for Australia at the

beginning of next year.

What is the

second baby called?

Good question.

We don't know.

Dimitrov coming in with depth and

Thiem hitting up and unable to

control a passing shot. Now, here is

a moment. Somebody is shrieking

break time coming from the crowd.

You do notice everything when you

are a player or a performer on any

stage you generally, you notice, you

hear things.

And you try and ignore

it.

Somebody just said, "You're

about to lose your serve."

130mph. Didn't miss by much.

That's a wonderful game from Dominic

Thiem. A bit of pressure at 4-4 and

he responded with a love hold.

He is such a handful on any court,

Dominic Thiem, the world number

four. He is 24 years of age, but on

a clay court he is a monster. In

Barcelona earlier this year he beat

Andy Murray who was world number one

at the time. Top seed there and lost

to nodal and went off to Madrid and

lost to Nadal there. But turn that

around at what used to be called the

Italian Open, the Masters 1000

series, it is a great tournament and

he beat Nadal in the quarterfinal

and it was a big set-up the

semifinal, him and Djokovic and

everyone was looking forward to it

and he got hammered. Can you imagine

beating Thiem 1-0 on a clay court?

So Thiem beat Nadal in Rome? I think

I said Madrid earlier. You beat

Nadal and you must be feeling

confident on a clay court. And the

next day you get one game. Back to

reality.

Yes!

I would say so. Some of the

hospitality here at The O2, all the

major sponsors of the ATP Tour that

go to so many places, they have got

boxes and meetings taking place. It

is one of the great gatherings here

and then the tennis tour largely

goes to sleep, but only for a few

weeks, only to re-emerge blinking

from a grey and cold European winter

and head to the sunshine of

Australia at the beginning of next

year.

Focussed on a lot of other stats,

but Dimitrov has been to the net 12

times and won ten and Thiem has come

to the net five times and won them

all.

So why don't they get to the

net more?

It's about what you come into the

net behind these days. You can't

come in and play some nice firs

volley for position and put the

second one away.

You have got to be

selective, but the theme of

finishing the point at net is a good

one. Its not going to happen all the

time, but looking to be aggressive

and dictate to your opponent.

This is the 20th game of the match.

Dimitrov has come in 12 times. Twice

every three games. I mean, it's

nothing. If he could come to the net

once a game.

Played a couple of times this year

in Brisbane and Dimitrov was playing

out of his mind at the beginning of

the year. He won that one 6-3 in the

third and then they played in Madrid

on the clay, Thiem won that one,

7-6, final set. That was 11-9, the

final breaker.

Really giving away too much trtry.

He must have been 20 feet behind the

baseline. It was a heavy ball from

Grigor Dimitrov, but you wouldn't

have thought he needed to be that

far back. It's a break point.

Oh yes, moving forward on to that

ball, he looks so good doing it. You

can't tell me he doesn't know how to

play a high ball. That's a wonderful

technique.

Look where the contact

point is, on the baseline, being

aggressive, dictating play. Got to

look to do that more often

irrespective of the score.

That shot helps as well, 134mph.

It looked like it caught the line.

Break point saved. Excellent hold in

the end from Dominic Thiem.

Giving away a lot of territory at

the back of the court, but stepping

up and catching that forehand

beautifully to save the break point

and then serving it out. Do you see

him as a future world number one

yourself, having seen his

development?

I guess po toningsly.

The exciting thing for him, there is

areas he can improve on. He

generates a lot of power, with you

doesn't have the consistency yet.

From the back of the court, falls

into a similar category. Can hit the

ball hard and generate both wings,

that I think on this type of surface

the court positioning is a question

mark, but having heard about his

work ethic, how motivated he is and

the hours that he spends on court, I

think with the team around him he

will be looking to make those

improvements and if he does that,

you could see him a the top of the

pile.

The next finals in Milan were

considered a success. Chung of South

Korea won that. Donaldson was

playing that as well. Others beside,

but some developments from the next

gen. I am sure we will get a chance

to talk about the Grand Slams this

week. So having had his opportunity

Dimitrov must now fend-off this

situation at 5-6.

It felt like Dimitrov was the player

who had the opportunity on the third

shot of the rally. His second shot

maybe to attack and come in. And he

didn't do that. Thiem was able to

work his way into the point and that

last backhand was definitely a

little bit tight.

And it's away. Dominic Thiem makes

it 1-1. Mum over there, delighted

and his partner, Christina as well.

Going the distance. This is another

thing that's being looked at is the

amount of toilet breaks that can be

taken. All part of the Next Gen view

of the world as we take a look at

set number two and see what has

turned around. Total winners, well,

roughly the same. The ratio of

winners to unforced errors not

looking good for Dimitrov there.

That proves it was the last game

because he did after all have that

break point opportunity at 5-5. How

quickly it can turn round. Points

won on points served.

Looking at the

serving stats there, the one that

will worry Dimitrov is first serve

percentage. When it goes in, he was

winning a good percentage, 80%, but

only made 43% of first serves.

That's really a role reversal, it

was Thiem in the first set who

couldn't find the mark.

The first

set was really low.

What you struggle, I have not been

in a spaceship, but it is like

having to look at the dials on that

and trying to make sense of it

sometimes, but you try and follow

these things. I do my best!

There will be revolutions and the

spin rate, you will see that graphic

come up from Dominic Thiem and

towards the end of that set, he was

rewarded for staying back and

hitting hard because Grigor Dimitrov

did get tight.

He kept the ball in

play and it's the tactic that won

him last game, but I think really to

be a dominant force indoors he has

to be more committed to his

strengths.

And having viewed all the sta Starcs

the most important thing, it is 1-1.

We have a third set shoot-out. I

think the start of this third set

could be important.

Can Thiem maintain the momentum and

the aggression or can Dimitrov turn

it around?

Nine points in a row for Thiem.

The next game is going to be

absolutely vital for Dimitrov to

settle back into this match. He has

been completely outplayed the last

eight or nine minutes.

A debut for Grigor Dimitrov, Dominic

Thiem is world number four from

Austria, the man in your picture.

Looked up to the likes of Kubick.

They have always had good players in

that country.

This is the talisman for Bulgarian

tennis. Dimitrov. An important game

here. 1-0.

This is a very poor run of form now

for Dimitrov.

You can see by Dimitrov's reaction,

the fist pump and looking at his

box, he appreciated what an

important game that was.

This is another thing at the Next

Gen final ins Milan, every single

line was covered by Hawk-Eye and

they have got the technology to do

that, so there was no need for any

of this. Was a great addition and

it's important to get the right

call. But if it was automatic, we

could be playing already.

It's quite fun a bit of drama, isn't

it, with a few challenges?

I think the use of the technology is

a must because it's very difficult

calling the ball when it's

travelling so fast so close to the

lines and you want to make sure that

matches are not decided on a bad

call.

Nicely done. The evening session is

one to look forward to with Rafa

Nadal here, of course, and hopefully

his knee will be OK, but as you were

saying before, Tim, nobody in tennis

at this point in the season is

playing without something slightly

wrong. All the players are looking

forward to some rest after this one,

but many will go straight into a

training block after maybe a week or

ten-day holiday. It never really

stops, does it?

It is always the

challenge and getting that schedule

right and here we are in the middle

of November after a busy season. The

players definitely need a bit of

time just to relax and recuperate

and let any of those aches and pains

and niggles t hopefully disappear

before they really put themselves

through their paces to give

themselves the platform to start

building in 2018.

Learning how to manage your body and

the schedule also is something that

you learn over time. Federer has

certainly managed that, deciding to

pull out of Paris ahead of this

event where if he had played that

Masters 1000 series event and done

well, pedestrian would still be in

with a shout of finishing yet

another year as world number one, as

it is, Nadal has now done enough,

but the rivalry between those two,

don't think for a moment that they

don't want to be getting through the

final here.

It was interesting to

hear Federer talking earlier on in

the week how he expects to play more

tennis next year. He views this year

as such an exceptional performance,

even he doubts that he could repeat

it, therefore feels he might have to

add a few extra tournaments.

Roger

did you say?

Yes.

Year. He views

And here is the man likened so many

times to Roger Federer. Baby Fed

they used to call him. I think he

preferred Prime Time. The

resemblance, people don't really

compare him anymore. He's Grigor

Dimitrov.

It's good hitting from Dimitrov,

don't get me wrong, but it is an

open invitation when Thiem stands

that far behind the baseline.

He couldn't get through him and he

couldn't get past him, Dimitrov. But

he did get over the top.

With a beautiful top-spin, lob, just

a lit flick. Not easy from there.

This wasn't very good.

Is That is always the its financing

do you that.

Decent hold there towards the end of

the second set, beginning of the

third set, this desired here.

Thiem did have a run of 11 straight

points.

Two all now, with new tennis balls.

Dimitrov refusing to give territory,

at baseline, at one point, getting

right down, whack back of court,

smothering the ball. Here is an

opportunity, Thiem can't buy a first

serve in this game yet.

Is hustling. 105mph, went for the

kick. Didn't pay dividends, two

break points.

This is the meat of the match now.

Net cord not helping the Bulgarian

player.

Two second serves in this game.

Dimitrov has tried to come over the

backhand and first point and that

one, there, the break point.

It is

is a fine line, on that second you

would say well he committed to it,

he went for it. But going down the

the line, high part of the net.

It is a high risk strategy for such

a big point.

It was a game where Dimitrov worked

his way into a good position there,

had to Hustle and sprint round the

back of the Court and Thiem has got

out of it to main the momentum. Hats

off to him for that game. That is is

a momentum biller.

It certainly is,

this is where Thiem has the score

board on his side. Cheeps his nose

in front.

Puts the pressure back on Dimitrov,

when you are always playing catch

up. First Bulgarian player is

Dimitrov, to reach the season ending

Championship. Of course on the

women's side they have the malaria

sisters who were superb players. --

Malava. For Austria, a fine seam of

players but Thiem considered to be

the best since Thomas Muster.

Each of the action coming your way

here on the BBC.

We will have different ones.

Just as Nadal is on this evening.

These matches, despite the likes of

Djokovic and Wawrinka, Nishikori.

Andy Murray, we miss those players

but the tennis, no less intense,

because of it.

The We do have the schedule for

tomorrow. Cilic versus Sock.

Is Tomorrow afternoon.

It is a must win match.

For both players.

Great response. Disappointment,

worked so hard in the previous game

and not broken. So not hanging his

head at all, is he.

It is a great

technique on the volley, meeting it

out in front. Punching the racket

head.

Pumping the fist. He has come to the

net 19 time, you have to think that

is probably not enough. He needs to

come forward more.

You can hear the work Dimitrov is

doing round the back of the court.

The stamping of the feet on those

wide forehands.

The value of the work on that second

point, 20, 30 feet off the court

surface, now he has his chance f

Haye had gone love 30 down, chances

of him winning the game or getting

involved in it were very slim. Now,

the half chance.

Wonderful block return of serve.

Thiem will feel he shouldn't have

missed this one, has he missed it?

Certainly has.

Do more here in the third set for

Dimitrov.

Oh! That is magnificent.

That didn't everyone look to be an

option, that is is right off the

practice court.

The chip short return, you can't

account for where that is going to

go. He saw it, so quick, and alive

to the opportunity, followed it in.

And this is Tiger Woods with a wedge

would have been delighted with that.

When you see a player with this much

skill, this good a technique around

the net, mine that is not an easy

shot.

It is not an easy shot on the

practice court. Recognises that is

an awkward approach, moves forward

Thiem playses a very delicate little

backhand and from a off his

shoelaces. That is beautiful, isn't

it.

That is one of the best shots we

have seen all year. That is not

overstating it. Look at the

cleanness and the contact on the

ball, is demonstrated by the amount

of spin there is on it and that

stops dead. The ball has travelled

forward only five, six, seven feet.

Wonderful.

The short of shot you play as a kid

and you love them. That is is one of

yours Tim.

It is one you try a

couple of hundred times but it only

comes off a couple of times. Now he

has to put that behind him, get back

in to the process of hitting his

spots on his first serve.

First serve down at 40% again. He

needs to hit his targets now and

look to dictate.

Thiem sticking around.

Doesn't really have the technique on

that backhand slice. He had thrown

some heavy artillery down the other

end.

Dimitrov had the chance to move

forward in the rally, and once you

haven't done that you felt Thiem had

a chance but poor unforced error at

this stage of the match.

He does have one challenge

remainling Thiem, so he has had two

failure news in set. He has asked

the questions twice, this one felt

great off the racket, he had

Dimitrov off the court with this,

did it land? He will be a bit cross

if it did.

Perhaps crosser because it didn't.

He hit it so well.

Certainly hit the spot with the

first serve.

Took a little pace off 110 but smart

play.

Four straight points and love 30

down Thiem will be so disappointed

there, he had his chance, will he

get another?

Think looking at Dimitrov's reaction

after winning that points, he

fancies another break of serve.

Rather than going through the

process of trying to serve it out at

5-4.

That is fine, heavy top-spinning

ball. Dips in the court.

So balanced. I think his coach wants

him to finish it here, thanks very

much. It will be intriguing to see

another game.

Good job from the Austrian.

He seems to deal with disappointment

very well.

He has a great attitude

on the court. As enough as Dimitrov

wanted to get the extra break to win

the match, Thiem knew he has to hold

serve to make Dimitrov go through

that trauma of trying to serve out

the match.

First qualifier from Bulgaria. Two

groups of four, and this is coming

from the Sampras group, Nadal

playing later on against Goffin of

Belgium. This is a match which could

well decide, with respect to Gough,

who is is a wonderful player, I can

see Nadal going through and one of

these two at the moment. Very early

day, of course.

So in the context of this group and

this tournament, that game coming

up, very important.

Love 30 down on his previous service

game, Dimitrov.

Doesn't want to get off to that type

of start when you are trying to

serve out the match.

Might want to

have a look on his states. When you

get your first serve in you do very

well.

Just get on the job here, think as

clearly as possible and goer it. 5-4

and serving for a win.

Not a lot wrong, quality backhand

pass, keep that low. Thiem to set up

the forehand.

Crosscourt winner.

Long way to go.

Very smart. Excellent match play,

both players demonstrating their

calibre, 115mph first serve, taking

a bit off it, getting it in heavy.

Two first serves in this game.

Following in the rules.

Oi both players with chance, ball on

the baseline, most of the crowd had

a view on that.

Dimitrov might have challenged.

Did well, Thiem. He is not a player

to go away, when the going gets

tough.

That ball was out on the baseline.

Was it?

Yes, it was.

Oh! Superb backhand as Tim Henman

was saying if Dimitrov had

challenged on his own baseline, he

would have been 40-15 and two match

points.

The game is gone. Thiem has broken

Dimitrov's not going to want to hear

after the match, about that call,

but he will, in the press

conference, his lack of a challenge,

which goes to show whey why I think

the automatic line calling at the

next general finals is something

that should be adopted if at all

possible.

-- Next Gem.

We certainly know about Thiem's

resolve. It will be a test of

character for Dimitrov and he will

serve for the match. I'm sure he

would have had his doubts about that

call. He has got to put it behind

him.

He worked so hard to get back in the

match. An unforced error, double

fault and sudden down 0-40.

Ah, two in a round. Dumps his serve

to 0.

-- row. You wouldn't want to

approach the game any differently if

you were Dimitrov when he served

5-4, he got two first serves in to

begin the game?

The most basic form

of psychology is staying in the

present tense and this is a classic

case where Dimitrov has got to

forget about his last efforts to

serve for the match, put it behind

him and really have a clear plan on

the first couple of points. How he

wants to execute the first points of

the next game.

Well, interestingly

at 5-4 he approached it by taking a

first bit off the first point.

He

did things right and you have got

toe give credit to Thiem for

sticking in. There was a huge call

that had a huge unfluns on the game.

Thiem hit the shot that was out at

30-15, if the challenge had been

made, if the call had been made.

40-15, two match points, you felt

that might have been enough, but we

don't do ifs and buts. Now he has

got to stand up to the line and

deliver a strong service game.

The

lights haven't come up on the court

yet because people who are taking

the fee, the TV fee around the

world, they are taking commercial

breaks. They all come back and the

players are requested to stay in

their seats until the lights on the

court come back up again, but

Dimitrov is sending a clear message

that he is ready to get toe-to-toe

in this game, by coming out before

the lights.

Let's see whether he

changes that up.

The last time they played earlier on

this year, Dimitrov it five match

points before Thiem won it. I wonder

if we are heading that way.

One out wide at the deuce box would

probably be viewed as a safe serve,

but that one 126mph straight up The

T. Got his reward.

That was a bit tight. His coach is

up on his feet.

He is urging him on.

If that was a

bit tight I would hate to see what

very tight is!

A game of small margins.

Double fault. Missed forehand. Back

to deuce.

Anywhere in the box at this stage.

Oh. Or anywhere over the net.

Everybody gets nervous.

Third match point this game.

He would like to finish it with one

swish of the racket, I think.

And it's away. Grigor Dimitrov opens

his account with a victory over

Dominic Thiem. The second visit to

London for the Austrian, but it is

the Bulgarian on debut who gets the

win. A really good match. Strong

tennis. Nerves. Showing how much it

matters this season ending

championship. Great effort in the

end for Grigor Dimitrov to come

through that.

Ten years out on tour and finally

gets to make it to this end of

season showdown.

And wins it the

hard way at the second time of

asking, serving it out. Dominic

Thiem the world number four

outplayed this time, but he still

has to play Rafa Nadal and David

Goffin and he can still make the

semi-finals. He can still win this

event. He has to regroup and he will

get a day off to think about this

and then come back. Dimitrov gains

the victory. The first by a

Bulgarian man at the season ending

championships. So another milestone

for him. Three tournament victories

this year for Grigor Dimitrov as we

see a new-found maturity. There

certainly would have been times in

the past where if he had served for

the match, and lost it, it could

have been a negative reaction, but

not a bit of it this time to his

great credit.

And Grigor makes his way into the

interview position.

He will be interviewed after that

victory.

So let's hear from Dimitrov who has

given us so much entertainment. He

is talking to Annabel.

It was an incredible contest,

everybody's nerves shredded watching

it, how did you get the win?

It's,

I'm not going to lie, I was pretty

nervous, my first match out. It's

not the same when you guys are not

around. We have been practising on

this court and all of a sudden and

you come in and you feel the weight

on your shoulders, in a positive

way. I'm grateful to win that match

and especially in that manner, it is

never easy toll come out here and

play for the first time and yeah,

I'm super excited to be out here,

but entering into this tournament

was a dream of mine, but it wasn't

just to compete, I just wanted to

win. So, every match I want to give

100% for myself and follow what I

have been working on, of course and

things seem to be going the right

way so far.

They certainly did. It

really was a terrific contest. There

was so many twists and turns to the

match. You served 5-4 and then you

got it back again at 5-5 to serve

for it again. How did you get

through the last game?

When I got

broken the first time I was like you

know, let's do it again. You know,

you fail and you get back up again

and that's how it is and I think one

of the toughest things is to manage

to switch it around and as soon as I

broke him back, I thought I'm

picking up the momentum and I had to

use the first serves, but there were

a few close calls here and there.

Yeah, on to the next one though!

Yes, OK, and finally, as you say, it

is your first experience playing

here at The O2, just describe at the

atmosphere and what it feels like to

play on this special arena and this

very special court?

I wish I could

describe, guys, thank you so much.

Yeah, I always like to say without

support, on side, of course the

family, I mean my team and close

friends who are around and I mean,

without that, you just, you know, it

doesn't matter how good you are on

court and all that, you're empty.

For me having all that, it's just

joy and to be able to compete in

front of them and win matches in

front of you guys, I mean it's my

dream. I'm living my dream right now

so I'm going to keep going that way.

Well done, Grigor Dimitrov.

Thank

you very much.

It was a glorious match. A great

shot making and well done for Grigor

Dimitrov. I'm not sure how he felt,

I was getting nervous. Tim and Andy

are with me. It was a tense thing.

It is never easy when you lose your

serve and you had your opportunity

and suddenly you are back at 5-5,

but he responded very well. There

are elements that he did

exceptionally well and I don't

necessarily think that he is aware

of them. They played close to 30

games and he came to the net 25

times and he won 20 of them, so he's

winning 80%, but he is coming in

less than one point a game. It's an

area he could do more and it would

give him greater success on first

serve, both were average. Only about

50% first serve. So if he can serve

more consistently then he's going to

play even better.

Andrew, a word.

Great tennis, great advert.

I think

he can win this group. It depends on

Nadal's knee. He will beat Goffin I

would imagine so he has put himself

in a great position and he is a

wonderful and entertaining player to

match.

We will be back tomorrow at

2pm on BBC Two. What a match we had.

What a close, close ending. I hope

you enjoyed it from all of us here.

Bye-bye.

It's a set to Grigor Dimitrov.

And it's away for Dominic Thiem. He

makes it 1-1.

That's magnificent.

Grigor Dimitrov opens his account.