RICKY’S PREVIEW AND PICK FOR THURSDAY AT THE BARCLAYS ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS: RAONIC VS. THIEM

Written by: Staff on 16th November 2016

RICKY'S PREVIEW AND PICK FOR THURSDAY AT THE BARCLAYS ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS: RAONIC VS. THIEM

epa05630469 Canada's Milos Raonic returns to Gael Monfils of France during a singles group match at the ATP Tour tennis finals tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 13 November 2016. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

Ricky’s preview and pick for Thursday at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals: Raonic vs. Thiem

By Ricky Dimon

Milos Raonic and Dominic Thiem will be squaring off in what is basically a quarterfinal showdown at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on Thursday night. Both Raonic and Thiem own 1-1 records through two matches in London and the winner will clinch a spot in the semifinals as the No. 2 seed out of Group B.

Novak Djokovic has already locked up first place in the group, while Gael Monfils is eliminated.

Raonic came somewhat close to pocketing a 2-0 record in round-robin action, but he could not follow up his opening 6-3, 6-4 win over Monfils by upsetting Djokovic on Tuesday. The world No. 4 had plenty of opportunities, but Djokovic ended up prevailing 7-6(6), 7-6(5) after two hours and 14 minutes. Overall, Raonic has been quite impressive so far at the O2 Arena after pulling out of a Paris semifinal against Andy Murray two weeks ago due to a quadriceps injury.

“I don’t feel it so far,” the Canadian said after succumbing to Djokovic. “Hopefully it doesn’t come back.”

Thiem has been something of a pleasant surprise in London, too. Although the world No. 9 was on fire for the first five months of the year, an extensive workload led to an alarming second-half slump. Thiem was a terrible 9-10 in his last 19 matches dating back to Wimbledon prior to this week. But plenty of rest the last few weeks–and a debut appearance at the World Tour Finals–has clearly reinvigorated the 23-year-old Austrian. He extended Djokovic to three sets in his opener and beat Monfils 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 on Tuesday.

“I wasn’t playing that many matches in the last (few) weeks,” Thiem explained. “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.”

Dominic Thiem of Austria returns the ball to Gael Monfils of France during their men’s singles match of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 15 November 2016. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

“He’s playing well,” Raonic said of his upcoming opponent. “I watched some of his match [against Monfils]. It was a little bit of a weird match–a little up and down. But he’s been doing stuff well throughout this whole year. Obviously, just like myself, he played extremely well at the beginning of the year; hasn’t necessarily played his best tennis since.

“This is one of my best surfaces. I don’t know if indoor hard courts [are] necessarily his. So hopefully I can take time away from him and play on my terms and have him react to the things I put forward and try to push him around.”

That is likely what will happen, as Raonic has cracked 26 aces through two matches and has generated 15 break chances in only our sets, of which has converted four.

Pick: Raonic in 2