After the Roland Garros draw ceremony was held, the top-half semifinal was expected to pit Novak Djokovic against Rafael Nadal. But Nadal’s withdrawal opened the door for other contenders and in walked Dominic Thiem, who will face the world No. 1 on Friday.
Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem will be squaring off for the third time in their careers when they battle for a place in the French Open title match on Friday.
Djokovic is sweeping the head-to-head series 2-0 thanks to a pair of 6-3, 6-4 wins; first at the 2014 Shanghai Masters and then earlier this spring on the hard courts of Miami. In their most recent showdown, however, Thiem deserved better than to have bowed out via such a routine scoreline. The 22-year-old converted only one of 15 break-point opportunities, whereas Djokovic capitalized on three of his six chances. In the total points category, the world No. 1 took 52 percent to Thiem’s 48 percent.
Thiem certainly benefited from some luck when Rafael Nadal’s third-round withdrawal opened things up in the second quarter of the Roland Garros bracket, but it is not as if the Austrian needs any help to achieve great success on a consistent basis. He was already doing that long before this fortnight–just not on this kind of stage. Thiem is second on tour behind Djokovic in match victories in 2016 and boasts three titles, giving him six for his career. The world No. 15’s final tune-up for this tournament resulted in the Nice winner’s trophy and he has maintained momentum with Paris defeats of Inigo Cervantes, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Alexander Zverev, Marcel Granollers, and David Goffin.
“He’s one of the leaders of the new generation,” Djokovic said of his upcoming opponent. “I’m sure he’s very motivated to show himself and others that he deserves to be at the top and compete for biggest titles. He’s playing the best tennis of his life–no doubt about it. The results are showing that.
“He’s played a lot of matches, especially on clay, which is his favorite surface. I’m sure he’s going to give it all in (the) semis. But I have something to fight for, as well.”
What Djokovic is fighting for, of course, is the career Grand Slam. The top-seeded Serb came within one win of lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires for the first time last year only to get derailed by an on-fire Stan Wawrinka. He has put himself within two victories this time around following victories over Yen-Hsun Lu, Steve Darcis, Aljaz Bedene, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Tomas Berdych.
“It’s gonna be unbelievably tough,” Thiem admitted. “I think he’s a little bit on a different level than all the other players.”
“It’s going to be a good one,” Djokovic added.
But how good can Thiem make it? Although the underdog has crucially managed to avoid any energy-sapping five-setters so far, he dropped sets to Cervantes, Zverev, Granollers, and Goffin–with his first two sets against the Belgian especially tough in both the physical and mental departments. Djokovic, on the other hand, has been in complete cruise control aside from a one-set hiccup against Bautista Agut. Expect something similar to their Miami contest, featuring plenty of entertainment and Djokovic raising his level in pressure-packed moments at the expense of an adversary who has never before been in this situation.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
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break points for Thiem
See, uses the FH and now he breaks Djoko’s serve! How many winners already from that FH now! Takes him so long to understand this! Not very bright player.
Thiem making a comeback. Bravo Dominic
Thiem just shifted the momentum in like thirty seconds lol
Short-lived however.
He played that entire game in fast forward!! what is wrong with Thiem :S
Djokovic walks back to his chair smirking after breaking back.
What about how he raised his hand to the crowd in salute after breaking Thiem.
what a sweat backhand DTL from Thiem!
Stubbornly keeps going for DTL shots and misses even the doubles alley!!
The kid just doesn’t know what to do out there. He needs to have a strategy going into a match like this.
Thiem was not ready for this, but he will come out of it having learned a lot.
I heard that Thiem will be ranked 7!
you have heard……CORRECTLY
Lucky’s analysis of what he is doing wrong so true.
But good experience for him anyway. Bresnick concenrates on stamina and fitness. Thiem needs a good game plan strategist. Djokovic clan looking more relaxed. ha, ha. and his parents are in the box too.
Going over to follow Murray now
Thiem could have stolen the 3rd set were it not for poor shot selection.
Too good from Novak and lots of lessons for Thiem…. he made his first slam SF so kudos.
Nole in threeeeeeeee.
Congrats to Meeeeeeeeeee!!!
Had Thiem even taken a set, I’d have thought he could do something big at a major. But as it stands, he’s no better than the generation before him that is content at making Quarters/Semis occasionally. The game rests more on stamina today than it does on skill, so a bigger investment for this lot is going to be required in just getting the best physios money can buy.
A future career decided by a single set.
So sad for Theim. Time to walk away from tennis.
Great analysis as always.
Did I say he has to walk away from tennis. You’re terrible at reading comprehension but desperate to get my attention. Google “as it stands” for future reference. Toodles. 😉
Hahaha best comment ever
Murray plays better than Stan, he deserves to be in the final. Murray is the only one having a chance to catch Djoko in the race this year, it’ll be a Djoko/Murray race this year I feel.
if you think Murray wins on Sunday, then maybe
if Djoker wins, it’s over
Andy will be serving to stay in the set.