Updates: Thiem Leads Djokovic 4-1 In Fifth Set, Play Suspended

In a roller-coaster Roland Garros semi-final Saturday, fourth seed and 2018 finalist Dominic Thiem holds a 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, 5-7, 4-1 lead against World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, but play was suspended due to rain at 2:22 p.m. local time.

Thiem is trying to become the first Austrian to reach multiple Grand Slam finals. And if the 25-year-old is able to accomplish the feat, he will end Djokovic’s 26-match major winning streak as well as the Serbian’ss hopes of claiming his fourth consecutive Slam title for the second time in his career. The winner of this match will face 11-time titlist Rafael Nadal in Sunday’s final.

Djokovic has far more experience than Thiem in five-setters, holding a 29-9 record to the fourth seed’s 6-6 tally, but Thiem has shown no fear in the decider, hitting seven winners thus far. When the players return to Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic will serve at deuce.

This is the third rain delay of the match, with play being stopped twice Friday in much windier conditions. The last time play was suspended, Friday evening, Thiem led 3-1 in the third set, relinquishing his advantage in his second service game Saturday, before ultimately winning the set.

Thiem is known for the overwhelming weight of his groundstrokes from the baseline as well as his speed around the court, but the Austrian has been especially effective with his drop shot on Saturday. The Austrian has been successful when he has been able to draw the top seed into net, as Djokovic has won just 27 of 61 net points in the match.

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If Thiem goes on to win the match, Djokovic will regret a big missed opportunity at 1-1 in the fifth set. Thiem hit a poor drop shot that the Serbian got to in plenty of time — perhaps in time to hit a standard groundstroke — but Djokovic shoveled a forehand long, and Thiem then broke in the next game.

Entering the match, Djokovic was the only player yet to lose a set at the clay-court Grand Slam. But the Serbian was bothered early Friday by the swirling wind — and with it, clay. While Thiem was solid, keeping his heavy groundstrokes safely in the court, the first set was moreso about Djokovic’s mistakes. He made eight unforced errors in the opener — including two when facing break point — to just one winner to give his 25-year-old opponent the lead.

But after the stars were sent into cover for less than 10 minutes as Thiem served at 6-2, 2-3, 30/0, Djokovic settled down immediately. The Serbian greatly reduced his errors, forcing Thiem to either outgrind him or go for more. And Djokovic converted his first break point of the match at 4-3 when Thiem launched a low forehand approach shot long.

Stats Through 4-1 in The Fifth Set

At the beginning of the third set, Thiem was no longer content to rally with Djokovic, instead going after his shots more to push the top seed back. That paid dividends at 2-1. After a massive gust of wind kept the Austrian from converting his first break chance of the game, Thiem did not let slip his next opportunity, dictating with his forehand to force an error to take the lead as the raindrops began to fall again.

But Djokovic was relentless when they returned Saturday, barely missing a shot and using great depth to keep Thiem back. The fourth seed saved two break points at 4-4, and just when it looked like Djokovic had all the momentum, Thiem turned things around to take a two-sets-to-one lead. 

The Austrian missed a backhand passing shot wide to give Djokovic a break at 2-1 in the fourth set. That was just the first of three consecutive breaks, though, with Djokovic emerging with a 3-2 lead. But once again the Serbian was unable to maintain the momentum, having to serve to stay in the match at 4-5. Djokovic remained steady, and Thiem perhaps showed nerves in double faulting to give the 2016 champion the break he needed to force a decider.

Djokovic leads the pair’s FedEx ATP Head2Head series 6-2, but Thiem has won two of their past three matches, including a straight-sets victory two years ago at Roland Garros. The top seed, who owns a 26-match winning streak at the majors, is just two victories from holding all four Grand Slam titles at the same time for the second time.

Thiem is trying to reach his second consecutive Roland Garros final. Last year, he lost in straight sets against Nadal on his first attempt at a maiden major trophy.

Did You Know?
Djokovic has won 10 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals entering this match, going on to lift the trophy on eight of those occasions.