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Sporting Life: In the fifth set, a tense, tired duel for a first Slam
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Dominic Thiem celebrates after winning championship point in his final match against Alexander Zverev.
PHOTO: AFP
Painted in perspiration, their faces are like shiny portraits in stress. It's the fifth set of the US Open final and pressure clings to them, clogs their joints, stills their feet. Winning a first Slam is supposed to be hard but, god, this hard?
Pressure is evident in Alexander Zverev's hiccuping second serves, in the overly-careful Dominic Thiem's backhand slices, in the 120 unforced errors they collect all day.
