Dominic Thiem wins US Open with greatest comeback in 71 years after going two sets down against Alex Zverev

DOMINIC THIEM won his maiden Grand Slam title with the greatest US Open final comeback for 71 years – and will now avoid the awkward call to Andy Murray.

The gutsy Austrian came from two sets down to beat close pal Alex Zverev in the first fifth-set tie-breaker at Flushing Meadows.

Dominic Thiem launched an extraordinary comeback to win the US Open

Thiem collapsed to the court after his marathon comeback win over Zverev

Record-breaking Thiem’s comeback left Zverev in tears

Thiem, the No2 seed, was forced to overcome painful cramp in the final games, but ultimately prevailed 2-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 7-6 in an extraordinary final.

It is the first time a player had come from two-sets down to win since Pancho Gonzales beat fellow American Ted Schroeder in 1949.

Thiem, 27, is the first man to win this title, who is not called Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal or Novak Djokovic, since 2016.

He also becomes the first man born in the 1990s to win a major title.

And it means he won’t have to speak with Scot Murray about the embarrassment of losing his first four major finals as he suggested pre-match.

Zverev was left in tears after Thiem completed an astonishing comeback

Thiem becomes the first male winner of a major title to be born in the 1990s

Thiem, who banks £2.3million, said: “[Alex and I] have known each other since 2014 when we were ranked close to 100.

“We developed a great friendship. And now a great rivalry.

“Great things happen on and off the court. I wish we could have had two winners.

“You will make your parents proud one day, Alex.”

In just over an hour, Zverev raced into a 2-0 sets lead playing brilliant tennis and broke Thiem in the third game of the first, second and third sets.

An exhausted Thiem collapsed to the court in joy after his comeback

The 22-year-old was on course to become Germany’s first male tennis champion since Boris Becker 24 years ago.

Yet Thiem, carrying an Achilles injury from the semi-final, refused to accept a straight-sets defeat.

Zverev, the No5 seed, even served for the match in the fifth and final set, but failed to see out the match.

Thiem pulled out some exceptional winners at the key moments to leave Zverev gobsmacked and, ultimately, heartbroken.

Breaking down in tears during his post-match interview, Zverev said: “I don’t know where to start.

“This is the first of many titles for Dominic. It was a tough battle.

“I wish you could have missed a bit more. But here I am giving the runners-up speech.

“It has been a difficult two years for me and my team but we are on the way up and hopefully one day we will lift that trophy up.

“Unfortunately, my dad and mum tested positive for Covid-19 before the tournament and couldn’t come here. I miss them.”