French Open: Dominic Thiem - biggest career win against Novak Djokovic
Dominic Thiem's success against Novak Djokovic at the French Open 2019 was the Austrian's first against a top player over the full distance in the best-of-five format.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jun 08, 2019, 05:53 pm
A little bit of kitchen psychology will probably still be allowed. So: Dominic Thiem's five-set victory in the semi-finals of the French Open 2019 was the greatest success in the career of Austria's number one. Why? Because of the US Open 2017. And also 2018. It was urgent for Thiem to win a best-of-five match against one of the big players in a tight fifth set. Especially since the meeting with Djokovic took place under very special circumstances.
Quite different, however, than at the Grandstand in the National Tennis Center in New York City almost two years ago. At the time, Thiem had dominated a battered Juan Martin del Potro for two sets in the round of 16, which brought the Argentinian back into the match with a much too fast 1: 6 in set three. And the audience as well. In the fourth round, Thiem had the victory on the racket, but was allowed to celebrate del Potro in the end. This match, which Dominic Thiem also said in the current week of Paris, is still firmly anchored in his memory.
Legendary match against Nadal in New York
A year later, the next notable appearance in New York. This time a round later, in the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium against Rafael Nadal. Thiem plays incredibly good tennis, but so does Nadal. At some point, very, very late in the evening (or very, very early in the morning) Thiem hits a smash just wide, Nadal moves into the semi-final with a 7-5 in the tie break of the third set (where he has to give up against del Potro).
Now the match against Djokovic in Paris 2019. Before each of the longer interruptions, you had the feeling that Thiem was better in the match. Also documented by the score. However, the world number one is generally a tough opponent. And one that was on a historic mission: for the second time, Djokovic wanted to win all four Grand Slam titles in a row. The minutes after 5: 3, 40:15 for Thiem in the fifth set had what it takes to be a trauma. That it did. But not for Dominic Thiem. He now knows at the latest that he can beat the greatest of his guild in the finish sprint of a marathon.