Thiem Beats Zverev to Win US Open for 1st Grand Slam Title

Austria's Dominic Thiem holds the trophy after winning the US Open in New York. Reuters
Austria's Dominic Thiem holds the trophy after winning the US Open in New York. Reuters
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Thiem Beats Zverev to Win US Open for 1st Grand Slam Title

Austria's Dominic Thiem holds the trophy after winning the US Open in New York. Reuters
Austria's Dominic Thiem holds the trophy after winning the US Open in New York. Reuters

Dominic Thiem produced a historic comeback to beat Alexander Zverev in a nervy five-setter and win the US Open on Sunday for his first Grand Slam title.

The second seeded Austrian beat the fifth seed 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) in 4hr 2min inside a near-empty Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It marked the first time in the US Open's Open era history that a player had recovered from losing the opening two sets to win the title.

It was also the first time the final had been settled by a tie-break.

"I wish we could have two winners today. I think we both deserved it," said Thiem.

The title is the 27-year-old Thiem's maiden Grand Slam trophy after three previous defeats in finals of tennis majors.

Thiem was runner-up at the Australian Open earlier this year and also lost in the last-two showdowns at the French Open in 2018 and 2019.

He also becomes the first new Grand Slam champion since Croatian Marin Cilic won at Flushing Meadows in 2014.

Thiem is also the first Grand Slam champion other than Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer since Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka won the third of his majors at the 2016 US Open.

"I achieved a life goal, a dream of myself, which I had for many, many years," said Thiem.



Brighton Signs Teenage Forward Kostoulas from Champions League-Bound Olympiakos 

Olympiacos' Charalampos Kostoulas, right, in action during the Youth League Final against AC Milan at the Colovray Sports Center in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 22, 2024. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP, file)
Olympiacos' Charalampos Kostoulas, right, in action during the Youth League Final against AC Milan at the Colovray Sports Center in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 22, 2024. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP, file)
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Brighton Signs Teenage Forward Kostoulas from Champions League-Bound Olympiakos 

Olympiacos' Charalampos Kostoulas, right, in action during the Youth League Final against AC Milan at the Colovray Sports Center in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 22, 2024. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP, file)
Olympiacos' Charalampos Kostoulas, right, in action during the Youth League Final against AC Milan at the Colovray Sports Center in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 22, 2024. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP, file)

Brighton has signed teenage forward Charalampos Kostoulas, who gave up a Champions League season with Olympiakos to play in the Premier League.

The 18-year-old Kostoulas signed a five-year contract, Brighton said, with the transfer fee reportedly set at an initial 35 million euros ($40.4 million).

“It is a dream for everybody to come here and play football,” the Greece Under-21 striker said in an interview published Friday by Brighton.

He scored seven goals in 22 games in the Greek league as Olympiakos won a record-extending 48th title and completed a trophy double in the domestic cup.

Olympiakos was elevated directly into the lucrative Champions League opening phase because title-holder Paris Saint-Germain already secured a place by winning the French league and will play eight games in the single-standings league.

Brighton finished eighth in the Premier League and did not qualify for European soccer.

Kostoulas was the central striker in Olympiakos’ Under-19 team that won the 2024 UEFA Youth League, one month before the senior team won the Conference League.