World Tour Finals preview and prediction: Raonic vs. Thiem

It will effectively be a quarterfinal clash at the World Tour Finals when Milos Raonic and Dominic Thiem square off on Thursday night. Both Raonic and Thiem own 1-1 records through two matches at the O2 Arena and the winner will clinch a spot in the semis as the No. 2 seed out of Group B.

Novak Djokovic has already secured first place in the group, while Gael Monfils is eliminated from contention.

Although Raonic came relatively close to seizing a 2-0 record in round-robin competition, he could not follow up his opening 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Monfils by upsetting Djokovic on Tuesday night. The Canadian had plenty of chances against the world No. 2, but Djokovic ended up surviving 7-6(6), 7-6(5) in two hours and 14 minutes. Overall, Raonic has been extremely impressive through two matches in London after pulling out of a Paris semifinal against Andy Murray two weeks ago because of a quadriceps injury.

“I don’t feel it so far,” the world No. 4 said after losing to Djokovic. “Hopefully it doesn’t come back.”

Thiem has been somewhat of a pleasant surprise this week, as well. Although the 23-year-old Austrian was on fire for the first five months of the season, an extensive workload paved the way to an alarming second-half slump. Thiem was a dreadful 9-10 in his last 19 matches dating back to Wimbledon prior to his arrival at the O2. But plenty of rest the last few weeks–and a debut appearance at the year-end championship–has clearly reinvigorated the world No. 9. He pushed Djokovic to three sets on Sunday and held off Monfils 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 on Tuesday afternoon.

“I wasn’t playing that many matches in the last (few) weeks,” Thiem noted. “Obviously, I think the energy in the first match and [against Monfils] was not perfect, but it was pretty good. The tournament, the big crowd, (and) the big arena gives me–and gives probably all the players–a lot of energy. I think that’s why everybody is giving his last energy in this tournament.”

Unfortunately for Thiem, this will likely be his last match of the tournament. Raonic has blasted 26 aces through two matches and has generated 15 break-point opportunities in just four sets, of which has converted four. Based on current form and the indoor hard-court surface, Raonic should roll.

Pick: Raonic in 2

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