Both of the Nitto ATP Finals semis on Saturday will be rematches of absolutely wild contests at last year’s event. Prior to the Rafael Nadal vs. Daniil Medvedev showdown during the night session, familiar foes Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem will be facing each other for the 12th time in their careers.
Djokovic and Thiem squared off in the round-robin stage last fall, when Thiem won what was without question one of 2019’s best matches 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(5). Absolute thrillers are nothing out of the ordinary when these two competitors collide. Final sets have been required in four of their last five matches and the only exception is a 7-6(2), 7-6(4) victory for Djokovic at the 2019 Madrid Masters. They most recently met for the Australian Open title, with the Serb triumphing 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to take a 7-4 lead in this entertaining head-to-head series.
Although Djokovic is the favorite on paper as a 17-time Grand Slam champion, it is Thiem who heads into the semis as a London group winner. The world No. 4 prevailed in Group B with impressive wins over Stefanos Tsitsipas and Rafael Nadal before losing in meaningless fashion to Andrey Rublev.
Thus continues a breakthrough performance on hard courts over the past two seasons. In 2019, Thiem captured the Indian Wells title and upset Nadal en route to the U.S. Open semis. The 27-year-old won the U.S. Open this summer for his first slam title and he is now back in the London semis after finishing runner-up to Tsitsipas last fall.
Djokovic was unconvincing in three round-robin matches, but he did enough to qualify thanks to victories over Diego Schwartzman and Alexander Zverev. In between the 33-year-old Serb got crushed by Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-3.
Although Djokovic’s level improved on Friday, he still doesn’t look overly motivated with the year-end No. 1 ranking already secured. Even when Djokovic was in slightly better form last year at this tournament, Thiem still took him down in dramatic fashion. This is another great opportunity for the world No. 3, who has clearly reinvented himself on this surface.
Pick: Thiem in 3
WWW?
In statistics, there’s a thing called an ‘outlier’ and Thiem beating Djokovic in the ATP finals last year was exactly that, all things considered. You might be right again and be fortunate that another outlier occurs or you might be wrong like you were with Zverev.
I’ll go Djokovic in 3 because I trust my data over the long run but would not be surprised if Thiem outperformed again with all the luck going his way and Massu egging him on from the sidelines.
Very tough match to call, but I’ll take Thiem…in 2.
Thiem in three .
Djoko is playing well but isn’t looking too motivated . And Thiem has bothered him in their H2H …feels like his time
A very big chance, we have another big 3 final again. I hope not. Thiem has a chance here since Djocovid’s form is shaky.
Only problem is Thiem’s form is shaky also.
Novak could win if Thiem falters mentally on important points, which Thiem has done on many occasions in the past. Otherwise, the match belongs to Thiem. Djokovic is hungry to equal Roger’s record and prove he is better than the Maestro. He will be at his defensive and counterpunching best. Should be an edge of the seat thriller, I say …… https://www.138mph.com/djokovic-will-play-thiem-in-semifinals-at-atp-finals/
I was actually there at the O2 last year, sad 🙁 now remembering, was very special, when Dom, playing breath taking, incredible, power tennis beat Novak. Not sure he will this time, looked awful against Rublik.
However go DOM!
How can Djokovic not be motivated to tie Federer’s 6 WTF titles? Djokovic is going for any record he hac have.
What is up with Djoko today? Smiling to himself, twirling the racket, so casual in his demeanor.. probably trying to mess with Thiems psyche
Omg!! Thiem is an animal.. what a bh that was to go up 6-4 in the tb
Wow!!! Monster Thiem! Massive respect. That tennis from 0:4 down in the tb, was something unique. Forehand 2:4 and backhand 6:4 potentially point of the tournament, were both amazing.
D O M I N I C 🙂 🙂 🙂
Dominic is the dominator n terminator of the top 4
He routinely eats the top 3 for bfast,lunch n dinner W
Won last 4 against fed
Won 5 of last 7 against djoko
Won 3 of last 4 against rafa
Top 3 I mean above
Thiem makes his matches such hard work. He almost always seems to got the distance no matter which round it is or who he is playing.
Dom has become an exceptional match player. At 4-O in the th i still thought he was going to come back. But Nole helped him with one of his bizarre forays to the net on a weak approach. Nole did this a lot, ie absolutely loads of times, against Dom at RG in 19. Why does he keep employing an unsuccessful strategy against him? He said his tb strategy, of which he is a master, is to make his opponent play one more shot. So why, up 4-0 needlessly come forward and engage in risky play? Quite bizarre.
How will this energy sapping match affect thiem in final tomm ?
Thiem will be fully recovered. He is very fit.
ND may be trying to shorten points because he has less stamina than he once did. Would hardly be surprising as he’s 33 now. But it was a very close match.
Thiem’s matches are always long and go to the wire no matter which round it is or who he is playing.