Dominic Thiem backs up win over Nadal to lift Argentina Open

Austria’s Dominic Thiem backed up his shock semi-final win over Rafael Nadal to clinch the Argentina Open title on Sunday with a 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (4) victory over Spaniard Nicolas Almagro

Austria’s Dominic Thiem backed up his shock semi-final win over Rafael Nadal to clinch the Argentina Open title on Sunday with a 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (4) victory over Spaniard Nicolas Almagro

Austria's Dominic Thiem holds up the winner’s trophy after defeating Spain's Nicolas Almagro (R) in the final of the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires on February 14, 2016. (Reuters Photo)

Thiem, the world number 19 and the youngest player in the top 20, captured his fourth career title, all of which have been on clay.

The 22-year-old claimed trophies on the surface at Gstaad, Umag and Nice, all in 2015.

Thiem had made the final by seeing off Nadal 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (4) on Saturday, saving a match point in the process.

Almagro, 30, was the champion in Buenos Aires in 2011, and had beaten another Spaniard, David Ferrer, to enter the title clash.