The anticipated Alexander Zverev vs. Dominic Thiem quarterfinal showdown has come to fruition at the French Open. In the other section of the draw’s bottom half, Novak Djokovic has a more surprising opponent on his hands in the form of Marco Cecchinato.
(7) Dominic Thiem vs. (2) Alexander Zverev
Zverev and Thiem will be facing each other for the sixth time in their careers and for the second time during this clay-court swing when they battle for a spot in the French Open semifinals on Tuesday. Thiem leads the head-to-head series 4-2, but Zverev has won two of their last three meetings after most recently triumphing 6-4, 6-4 in the Madrid final. Thiem is still in front 3-1 on clay, having prevailed three times in 2016–including via a 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 decision at Roland Garros.
Just 19 years old when they first squared off in Paris, Zverev is now one of the undisputed best players in the world and certainly one of the most capable on clay. In fact, this a matchup between arguably the second-best clay-courters on tour behind Rafael Nadal. Zverev is an amazing 21-3 on the red stuff in 2018 (21-1 against opponents other than Nadal) with titles in Munich and Madrid plus a runner-up finish in Rome. Thiem also owns a pair of titles this season, having won in Buenos Aires four months ago before lifting the trophy a little more than a week ago in Nice. The latter gave the eighth-ranked Austrian plenty of momentum going into Roland Garros, where he has defeated Ilya Ivashka, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Matteo Berrettini, and Kei Nishikori in mostly convincing fashion. Already a two-time French Open semifinalist, Thiem enjoys the Paris conditions much more than those of Madrid and he is playing well enough to take advantage of an opponent who may wear down in another competitive contest having already played 18 sets during this event.
Pick: Thiem in 5
[polldaddy poll=10021684]
Marco Cecchinato vs. (20) Novak Djokovic
While Nadal is making mincemeat out of a weaker top half of the bracket, Djokovic’s draw has worked out nicely for him on the other side. The 22nd-ranked Serb has not run into anyone inside the top 12 of the rankings and that will continue through the quarterfinals, in which he has a surprising date with Cecchinato on Tuesday. Having recovered from an elbow injury and with his old team back in place, Djokovic finally heated up for the first time in 2018 by reaching the Rome semis and testing Nadal in a tight two-setter. The former world No. 1 has cruised for the most part in Paris, taking out Rogerio Dutra Silva, Jaume Munar, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Fernando Verdasco.
Cecchinato’s run is nothing short of shocking, as the 72nd-ranked Italian had never won a main-draw match at any Grand Slam in his entire career prior to this fortnight. In fact, he was a mere 12-32 lifetime at the main-tour level heading into the French Open. From completely out of nowhere, Cecchinato earned an improbable place in the quarters by beating Marius Copil (10-8 in the fifth set), lucky loser Marco Trungelliti, No. 10 seed Pablo Carreno Busta, and eighth-seeded David Goffin. The 25-year-old has at least been relevant on clay over the past couple of seasons, but even on this surface it will be tough for him to handle the enormity of the occasion against an opponent who is recapturing his world-class form.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
[polldaddy poll=10021832]
Well done Cecchinato, the win of his life! (so far)
I feel for Novak, he served for the forth!
I feel for him too, he wasn’t at his best, but tried. Both had critical errors at pivotal moments. Minus Set 3, it was a good show from the players.
Well said mona!! The hater on here could learn some class from you! He is an utter pain!
Esp when Novak mishit that ball into the crowd and when it hit the netcord, both at set points! Unlucky!
Yes exactly mona!!😀
CHECCHINATO!!!!!
Cechinatto, Wow! Top 3 in the world quality! Bring on Theim!
Nonsense!
Thiem will reach his first slam final.If Rafa will be his opponent, he will face the only player who has beaten him on clay in the last two seasons. That would be an interesting constellation – if it comes to pass….
His backhand is unreal.
Hi Sanju! What is your feeling?
🙂
haha..I am happy augusta..I did not want Novak close to Rafa..though maybe I was worrying too much 🙂
Unbelievable gutsy performance from the Italian! Well done! Amazing TB! Novak fought so hard but this guy was on the mission!
CECCHINATO WOW
Holy Smoke. What a come back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bookies had Djokovic a 1.08 chance. They were a bit off the mark with that one.
I had a feeling he could trouble Djokovic because although Djokovic has been winning so far I wasn’t convinced about his form. 5 sets to beat Bautista-Agut is not a good sign and Marco has a big game and a great serve.
Exactly, Djoko wasn’t convincing in his wins so far. He’s doing retrieving most of the times and throwing in high loopy defensive shots that first Verdasco, now this Italian, had problems dealing with when they either hit a overhead shot info the net, or hit a weak return back to Djoko who could get back into position by then.
Credit has to be given to Djoko though, for he’s able to up his level once he sensed his opponent’s lapses and could pounce immediately. Verdasco imploded, this Italian guy Marco fortunately didn’t and caught his second wind to win in the end.
Verdasco was awful in his encounter with Djokovic by letting him off the hook, making UFEs, everytime he had the chance to hit a winner.
The Djoker had a very benign draw. But that he went out against a total nobody – I didn’t see this coming.
I’m fairly sure he was bothered by this injury
Djokovic was in the zone and still lost. Lets see what odds they give Theim.
Sanju needs to examine his gut feeling. Thank goodness he won’t bore us with his call on who would win a title anymore.
haha….its the love for rafa that is inducing fear of him losing to his once dangerous opponents..
I cannot understand the meanness though through a personal attack ..but anyways what else can I expect from you..seen this from you many times towards multiple people 🙂 get well soon 🙂
Sanju…I am sorry u always had to endure a ‘stingy’ post from badline10 & augusto08…They act like that coz they love Rafa so much..and i so want to suggest to them to apply to be Rafa’s bodyguard…It suit them!
Oh!…Feel free to voice your opinion next time Sanju!…That’s why we’re all came here…To relief our fears,frustration,disappointment & sharing happiness that’s related to Rafa…WE’RE RAFANS AFTER ALL!!…Yeeehaaa!!
Mira Andi says AT 10:09 PM: “…i so want to suggest to them to apply to be Rafa’s bodyguard…It suit them…Feel free to voice your opinion next time Sanju!
===
I am going to be Rafa’s ‘bodyguard’ on the GS! 🙂
And, secondly, I feel free to voice my opinion on the GS (until it suits to the owner of the site)! 🙂
augusta!..Hahaha…Yeah!…I know that too!…It’s just,it’s hard to see u slashed our fellow Rafans here..They’re all nice people augusta….Oh!How i wish u would come to TX & deal with Rafa haters there!…Urgh!!..It’s unbearable sometimes!
Mira Andi AT 4:14 AM,
I read TX in 2010/2011 (I have read many websites to get information), but anti-Rafa propaganda made by its owners/employees made the website unbearable.
You guys are lucky to have Mira as a Nadal fan here. She’s one connecting the bricks and reminding everyone thay despite having different temperaments and views sometimes, you are still on the same side. Well done lady.
Geez Nadline, chill out! Sanju was just giving his opinion. Just because he happened to be wrong and the initial opinion wasn’t in favor of Rafa doesn’t mean you have to be so damn condescending to Sanju and so sensitive/defensive about your guy. You don’t have to take every comment that isn’t worshipping Nadal as a personal insult towards him.
Finally, what a point to win the MP and the match!
Djoko is there for the taking,I’m sorry to say that, and it’s the Italian guy’s inexperience that it takes him so long to win this match. My commies here said this is the greatest match at RG, my goodness, how low is their standard! The greatest match for this Italian guy maybe, certainly not a high quality match except there’s the drama of an underdog beating a former champion here.
Djoko was really serving very poorly in the TB, he had SPs and couldn’t convert to stay in the match. The Italian guy’s team members are so emotional about this win, one guy is crying, really happy for them for winning this match against Djoko and reaching the SF of a slam for the first time.
Both Bolelli and Foggy must have envied this Marco’s path to the SF at least, when Bolelli has to meet Rafa in R1, and Foggy has to deal with Cilic, even if he won that one there’s still Delpo to deal with.
I disagree, this match was of the highest order. Top 3 in the world quality from both of them.
Hahaha.!!!you are so full of it! Given your obsession with betting why don’t you stay on the daily picks thread with the other bettors! That’s much more your style and you would be with kindred spirits!
Theim 1.14
Cechinatto 6.70
There will be a ocean of money for Cechinatto at that price.
Wouldnt surprise me if those odds come into 3s.
The errors Nole made several times with the open court show how lacking in confidence he still is…I know that pleases some people but the tour would be a lot better with him and Andy back on form
I think his neck or shoulder issue might have hindered him, some of his misses in the TB esp after he leveled the score were inexplicable.
According to Eurosport, Djokovic declined to go the press conference but held one with just a handful of journalists and he says he might skip the grass season.
Huh? Skipping the grass season? That means his injury issues are more serious than we thought. Poor soul, I wonder did he really fully recovered before making a comeback in Jan this year.
What happen to these top players (Djoko, Murray, Stan and also Raonic)? Why are they getting so seriously injured and have to take so long to get fully recovered? And, they all suffered serious injuries at about the same time!
Very very weird indeed
Tennis reporter Carole Bouchard tweeted: “Djokovic rushed to press but not in the main room.
“Settled in room 2: chaos followed. He’s obviously dejected, super angry and disappointed.
“Said he missed too many chances. Added that he wasn’t sure if he’d be playing on grass at all.
“P***** off is an understatement for his mood.”
A visibly disappointed Djokovic appeared in no mood to chat during his press conference but credited his opponent for an entertaining affair.
“I mean, he played amazing and credit to him. Congrats for a great performance. He came out very well,” Djokovic said.
I struggled from the beginning. Unfortunately, it took me time to get well, and struggled with a little injury, as well, at the beginning. And after, when I warmed up, it was better.
But, yeah, just a pity that I couldn’t capitalize on the chances in the 4-1 in the fourth set and some break points that I thought I had in there, but he came back and credit to him
Maybe, the Djoker is just frustrated. Why should he skip the grass season?? Doesn’t make any sense. He was slowly getting better after all. Can’t he deal with his lowered status? A true champion has to deall with these situations. If the Djoker can’t do this, he may be really finished..
Btw, Rafa has been the oldest player in the singles draw for quite a few rounds now! I haven’t checked if there even was an older player in the draw.
Tennis: Beaten Djokovic Says May He Skip Wimbledon
By Reuters
June 5, 2018
PARIS — Novak Djokovic said he does not know if will play the grasscourt season after tumbling out of the French Open on Tuesday.
The Serb, three-times a Wimbledon champion, appeared distraught after his quarter-final defeat by unseeded Marco Cecchinato in which he was treated for neck pain.
“I don’t know if I’m going to play on grass,” Djokovic told a media conference room minutes after walking off court.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Does anyone get through a long tennis career without a serious injury or three?
The wonder is that Djokovic lasted so long without major injury. As well as needing to rehab his knee I believe Stan lost Magnus Norman as his coach, which was a serious blow. Raonic seems to be prone to problems. Murray’s had some issues, back surgery a couple of years ago, among other things. But really what’s happened to all of them is gettin’ older.
Why did Stan part with Magnus Norman? The guy has done wonders for him.