London (AFP)

Austria's Dominic Thiem (N.5) qualified for the Masters tennis final in London on Saturday by defeating defending champion Alexander Zverev (N.7) 7-5, 6-3.

In the final, he will meet Sunday the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (N.6) who dominated in the afternoon Roger Federer (N.3) in two sets (6-3, 6-4).

Zverev's raging racket throw at the loss of the first set spoke volumes about the player's frustration.

Losing your serve when you have 84% first balls can be hard to swallow, especially when you have not conceded a break point until 6-5 for your opponent.

Unfortunately for him, his 3 double faults, including one on the set decisive ball and especially his 19 unforced faults, against only 12 for his opponent, have rocked a very tight first act.

A little out of the match afterwards, Zverev played in fits and starts, against Thiem who was trying to keep the lead and the Austrian managed to break his opponent in a sixth game very disputed.

The title-bearer spoiled two more chances to pick up the next game, and could not stop Thiem, who beat Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the pool, from giving Austria their first Masters final.

© 2019 AFP