⁍ Dominic Thiem became the first man in 71 years to win the tournament final after dropping the opening two sets.

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⁍ The 27-year-old from Austria is the first man to win the American Grand Slam tournament after trailing 2-0 in sets in the final.

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⁍ No major tournament ever had been settled by a fifth-set tiebreaker; no major tournament ever had until Novak Djokovic edged Roger Federer that way at Wimbledon in 2019.

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– A US Open unlike any other finished unlike any other—with an unprecedented fifth-set tiebreaker as Dominic Thiem became the first man in 71 years to win the tournament final after dropping the opening two sets. So close to defeat in a nearly empty Arthur Ashe Stadium—fans were banned because of the coronavirus pandemic— Thiem slowly but surely turned things around against a faltering Alexander Zverev and surged to a 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory at Flushing Meadows to earn his first Grand Slam title. When a backhand from Zverev landed wide on the third championship point, a weary Thiem dropped to his back way behind the baseline and covered his face with his hands. When he arose, he was met by Zverev, who walked around the net to clasp hands, then embrace his friend and foe, two sights rarely seen in this era of social distancing. Thiem then rested his head on the shoulder of the taller Zverev, a 23-year-old from Germany who himself came within two points of what would have been his first major triumph. “I wish we could have two winners today,’ Thiem said. “I think we both deserved it.’ The 27-year-old from Austria is the first man to win the American Grand Slam tournament after trailing 2-0 in sets in the final since Pancho Gonzalez did it against Ted Schroeder in 1949 at an event then known as the US Championships and held in Forest Hills. The event never had been settled by a fifth-set tiebreaker; no major tournament ever had until Novak Djokovic edged Roger Federer in 2019.