TENNIS NEWS FROM 10SBALLS FROM PARIS – RICKY’S PICK FOR THE FRENCH OPEN SEMIFINAL BETWEEN NOVAK DJOKOVIC AND DOMINIC THIEM

Written by: Staff on 2nd June 2016

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

TENNIS NEWS FROM 10SBALLS FROM PARIS - RICKY'S PICK FOR THE FRENCH OPEN SEMIFINAL BETWEEN NOVAK DJOKOVIC AND DOMINIC THIEM

epa05337261 A general view of an almost empty Court Philippe Chatrier as the start of day 9 is delayed due to rain at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2016. EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT |

By Ricky Dimon

Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem will be facing each other for the third time in their careers when they battle for a spot in the French Open final on Friday. Djokovic is sweeping the head-to-head series 2-0 by virtue of two 6-3, 6-4 wins; first at the 2014 Shanghai Masters and again earlier this season on the hard courts of Miami.

In their most recent contest, however, Thiem deserved better than to have bowed out via such a routine scoreline. The Austrian converted a mere one of 15 break-point chances, whereas Djokovic capitalized on three of his six opportunities. In the total points category, the Serb took 52 percent to Thiem’s 48 percent.

Thiem certainly benefited from some luck when Rafael Nadal’s third-round pullout opened things up in the second section of the French Open bracket, but it is not as if the world No. 15 needs any help to achieve great success on a consistent basis. He was already doing that long before this–just not on this kind of stage. Thiem is second on tour behind Djokovic in match wins in 2016 and owns three titles, giving him six for his career. The 22-year-old’s final tune-up for this event resulted in the Nice title and he has maintained momentum with wins at Roland Garros over Inigo Cervantes, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Alexander Zverev, Marcel Granollers, and David Goffin.

“He’s one of the leaders of the new generation,” Djokovic said of Thiem. “I’m sure he’s very motivated to show himself and others that he deserves to be at the top and compete for biggest titles. He’s playing the best tennis of his life–no doubt about it. The results are showing that.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during their men’s single quarter final match at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 02 June 2016. EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT

Dominic Thiem of Austria in action against Marcel Granollers of Spain during their men’s single round of 16 match at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 31 May 2016. EPA/IAN LANGSDON

“He’s played a lot of matches, especially on clay, which is his favorite surface. I’m sure he’s going to give it all in (the) semis. But I have something to fight for, as well.”

What Djokovic is fighting for, obviously, is the career Grand Slam. The world No. 1 came within one win of lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires for the first time in 2015 only to get derailed by a red-hot Stan Wawrinka. He has put himself within two wins this time around following victories over Yen-Hsun Lu, Steve Darcis, Aljaz Bedene, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Tomas Berdych.

“It’s gonna be unbelievably tough,” Thiem commented. “I think he’s a little bit on a different level than all the other players.”

“It’s going to be a good one,” Djokovic assured.

But how good can Thiem make it? Although he has crucially managed to avoid any energy-sapping five-setters so far, he surrendered sets to Cervantes, Zverev, Granollers, and Goffin–with his first two sets against the Belgian especially difficult both mentally and physically. Djokovic, on the other hand, has been cruising for the most part aside from a one-set hiccup against Bautista Agut. Expect something similar to their Miami showdown, featuring plenty of entertainment and Djokovic raising his level in pressure-packed moments at the expense of an opponent who has never before been in this situation.

Pick: Djokovic in 3