RICKY DIMON REPORTS FROM THE MIAMI OPEN TENNIS 2016 TOURNAMENT – DJOKOVIC BEATS THIEM BY CLOSER-THAN-IT-LOOKS SCORE, THE GREAT GAEL MONFILS ALSO ADVANCES

Written by: Staff on 29th March 2016

RICKY DIMON REPORTS FROM THE MIAMI OPEN TENNIS 2016 TOURNAMENT - DJOKOVIC BEATS THIEM BY CLOSER-THAN-IT-LOOKS SCORE, THE GREAT GAEL MONFILS ALSO ADVANCES

epa05235520 Novak Djokovic of Serbia (L) reacts after defeating Dominic Thiem of Austria during a fourth round match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 29 March 2016. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER |

The record will indicate that Novak Djokovic made routine work of Dominic Thiem during fourth-round action at the Miami Open on Wednesday afternoon. A more accurate picture, however, is painted by both the statistics and the eye test. Anyone who was in attendance surely appreciated the entertaining affair to which they were treated, even though Djokovic got the job done in seemingly dominant 6-3, 6-4 fashion.

A much different story could have unfolded if Thiem had been able to come up with the goods at the critical junctures. Instead, the 22-year-old Austrian squandered 14 of 15 break points and the only one he converted came courtesy of a Djokovic double-fault.

Dominic Thiem of Austria in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during a fourth round match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 29 March 2016. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

In the opening set, Thiem survived a three-deuce game and saved one set point to hold for 3-5. He then had four break points to get back on serve, but Djokovic battled trough a four-deuce game to seal the deal. With the top-seeded Serb serving for the match at 5-4 in the second, he fought off four more break points, navigated seven deuces, and finally converted a fourth match point to triumph after one hour and 49 minutes.

“It [was] going to end sooner or later,” Djokovic commented. “Generally I don’t face that many break points, but conversion of break points from my opponent today was only one out of [15], so that’s a positive in a way. But I’ll try not to get myself in those positions too much…. It was a straight-set win, but far from easy. It was a tough match.”

“Today (there) were positive and negative things,” Thiem posted on Facebook. “I can take advantage of (them) in the future…. I couldn’t take advantage of my [break points]; I only converted one out of 15; that’s [not enough], especially when your opponent is the No. 1 in the world.

“Nevertheless, I am happy about my performance here in Miami; I was able to gain some new experience and now I am heading, of course a little bit disappointed, back home. Next up, clay-court season!”

Gael Monfils of France in action against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during their fourth round match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 29 March 2016. EPA/RHONA WISE

The hard-court proceedings will continue at least one more one more round for Djokovic, and for Gael Monfils. Joining Djokovic in the quarterfinals by also prevailing on Tuesday were Monfils, Milos Raonic, Nick Kyrgios, Tomas Berdych, Gilles Simon, and David Goffin. Monfils recovered from a set deficit to outlast Grigor Dimitrov 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3 in a day-session match that went well into the night.

After going down an immediate break in the third set, the Frenchman broke right back and earned another scalp of the Dimitrov serve at 4-3 before closing the door at love in emphatic fashion. By lasting exactly two and a half hours, it forced the Kei Nishikori vs. Roberto Bautista Agut showdown to be moved from the stadium to the Grandstand.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp World Tour, David Goffin, Dominic Thiem, Gael Monfils, Gilles Simon, GRIGOR DIMITROV, Miami Open, milos raonic, Nick Kyrgios, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych

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dusanVemic says:

March 29, 2016 at 10:19 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@Dimonator Reports From The #MiamiOpen #Tennis- Djokovic Beats Thiem, Monfils Also Advances
https://t.co/ODulEHwfU0 http…
ElenaFoundation says:

March 30, 2016 at 2:15 am

RT @10sBalls_com: -@Dimonator Reports From The #MiamiOpen #Tennis- Djokovic Beats Thiem, Monfils Also Advances
https://t.co/ODulEHwfU0 http…