It may be the “other” semifinal on Friday, but no one should be surprised if Novak Djokovic vs. Dominic Thiem turns out to be the better of the two matches–in terms of both quality and competitiveness.
Neither one of their first two French Open matches lived up to the hype, but it was not only Djokovic who engineered a beatdown. After the Serb cruised 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 in the 2016 semifinals, Thiem returned the favor one year later by dominating 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-0 in the quarters.
Overall, Djokovic leads the head-to-head series 6-2–including 3-2 on clay. They just faced each other last month in Madrid, where the world No. 1 prevailed 7-6(2), 7-6(4) on his eventual way to the title. Thiem’s other victory came at the 2018 Monte-Carlo Masters via a 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-3 decision.
Although Thiem looked vulnerable earlier this fortnight, he is now looking like a future (and maybe even present, come Sunday afternoon) champion at Roland Garros that many in the tennis world tip him to become. After scraping past Tommy Paul, Alexander Bublik, and Pablo Cuevas all in four tough sets, the fourth-ranked Austrian destroyed both Gael Monfils and Karen Khachanov without losing more than four games in any set.
“I think every match [I’ve gotten] better and better,” Thiem assessed. “(The) first two opponents were very tough because they also didn’t give (me) any rhythm and they didn’t have anything to lose. So these were two very tough matches. From the third round on, it got a lot better.”
Djokovic is perfect through five rounds, having made routine work of Hubert Hurkacz, Henri Laaksonen, Salvatore Caruso, Jan-Lennard Struff, and Alexander Zverev. The top seed and 2016 French Open winner is 13-1 in his last 14 clay-court matches, with a loss only to Rafael Nadal in the Rome final.
Thus the stage is set for a blockbuster semifinal lineup, which also includes Nadal vs. Roger Federer. Thiem may be the outsider among the four in terms of major title-winning experience, but it’s obvious from both past French Open success and current form that he is the only other player who truly belongs on semifinal Friday.
“Dominic is deservedly where he is–one of the top four guys, especially on clay,” Djokovic explained. “That’s where he’s playing his best tennis. He’s got that tremendous power in his game, especially with forehand and serve. I think (his) backhand also has improved a lot in the last couple of years.
“(It) seems like his relationship with (new coach Nicolas) Massu has helped him a lot…also mentally, I think, in big matches; seems like it has been working really well. If he continues playing this way, not just on clay but in general, I think we will probably be seeing him more often on different surfaces in the final stages of the tournament.”
Will we see Thiem in the final? We did last year, and he has been no less impressive on the slow stuff in 2019. His recent exploits are highlighted by a title in Barcelona, where he defeated Nadal 6-4, 6-4 in the semis.
Beating Djokovic at Roland Garros may be even more difficult, but it is a feat Thiem has already accomplished once. And as well as the 15-time slam winner is playing right now, he still does not appear to be at his Australian Open best.
Pick: Thiem in 5
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This is such great tennis now that I hope they play a nice long fifth set to give the spectators a treat!😉😉
Djokovic choked big time. He wants to win the points too easly.
Terrible game from Novak!
Whoa, what a gift for Thiem, can’t believe Djoko DF at BP! Now a real test for Thiem serving for the match.
Theim df at breakpoint in the fourth!! It happens! And Novak seems to df a lot at critical points at RG. He did the same against Rafa some years ago there giving RAfa the match!
And the plot sickens. Djoko was serving with the sun in his eyes when he got broken…Theim with less excuse, back to deuce!
Hahahaha, can’t anyone here hold serve?
What a choke! 2 match points gone!
Surely that is the end of Dom? Who can conspire to play the least dreadful tennis?!
Why does Thiem have to go for broke on every shot? It opens him up to UEs galore.
See, Thiem just can’t hold serve! He’s such a mental midget! This is not even the final!
As Lucky said, slice bh is killing Theim.
Stop that BH slice, you stupid!!
Bet Rafa’s enjoying this….
Rafa does not really care. Noneof them are going to beat Rafa with this type of elevator tennis! One good point, one bad point, up, down, up, down, break of serve, break back. C’mon, Federer would have had this Djoker for lunch!
Talking about that, Fed had the luck to draw Rafa in the SF, had he been drawn in Djoko’s half, I bet it’s Fed in the final to meet Rafa there (and Rafa would’ve beaten Thiem in a windy SF, unlike this Djoko)!
Fed played better yesterday than either Dom or Novak!! Quality of Fedal was way higher!
I do hope Massu tells Dom to use slice all the time against rafa!!☺
Thiem’s BH is leaking so much errors despite the winners, why isn’t Thiem moving his legs to try to hit CC FHs instead?? So very unintelligent!
The ladies’ final would have finished by now if they hadn’t carried this match over.
And Thiem holds at love… can we go to 72-70? C’mon guys, shoot for the record!
Ramara 😉
Why did Thiem not go down the line instead of giving the ball back to Djokovic?
Well played Djokovic at the net. Clutch.
Dominic Hit-Or-Miss Thiem
I’m truly pissed with Thirm, Djoko is making so many mistakes and yet Thiem just couldn’t take advantage!
Thiem did it in the end!