Dominic Thiem leaves Abu Dhabi in positive spirits despite another loss

Rising Austrian star Dominic Thiem will be leaving the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in positive spirits despite picking up his third loss at the Abu Dhabi exhibition in as many days. The Austrian was edged out by fellow rising star Karen Khachanov on Saturday 6-3 4-6 10-3.

Thiem, 25, was hoping to beat Khachanov on Saturday and made amends for the loss he suffered to the Russian on the opening day of the event on Thursday. The 25-year-old lost to Khachanov in straight sets on Thursday before he picked up another straight-set defeat against rising South-Korean Hyeon Chung a day later.

Thiems campaign was due to end on Friday but a Rafael Nadal withdrawal led to the Austrian playing one more match at the tournament. Nadal lost to South-African Kevin Anderson on Friday and decided not to play on Saturday against Khachanov.

2018 French Open runner-up Thiem made himself available for one more match as he replaced world No. 2 Nadal. Thiem was 3-2 up in the first set before he got broken twice in a row as he lost the following four games and the opening set eventually.

However, the Austrian bounced back in the second set as he saved a break point in the eighth game before he got the crucial break in the ninth game to force a decider. Both players were tied at 1-1 in the match tie-break when Khachanov went on to win seven points in a row and eventuality cruise past the third set.

It was my best match of the week. Finally starting to feel the ball, Thiem said post-match, per Jose Morgado. World No. 8 Thiem is due to play his first ATP event of the season next week at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha.

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