Thiem wins physical test over Djokovic

Thiem, who let slip three sets points in the first set, knocked out 2013 and 2015 champion Djokovic, who was contesting only his ninth match in as many months, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3 in two hours and 29 minutes for a place in the quarter-finals. 

The Austrian may one day emulate the achievements of his countryman and three-time former Monte-Carlo title-winner Thomas Muster (1992, 1995-96). 

Djokovic dragged himself back from a slow start, trailing Thiem 0-3, and later saved three set points at 3-5, Ad-out and at 4-5, when Thiem was serving at 40/15. In the tie-break, from 1/1, the Serbian stepped inside the baseline at every opportunity to win six of seven points. At 2/6, Thiem, dressed in all black on a hot day, struck his second double fault of the 60-minute first set. 

Thiem, well versed in long, lung-testing rallies on red dirt, saved one break point in his first service game, then played a patient game at 2-2, when Djokovic recovered from 15/40 only to hand the Austrian a break with a backhand error. Thiem grew in confidence after a tight sixth game and broke Djokovic once more for a 5-2 advantage. 

With neither player giving anything away in the decider, it was Thiem who tested Djokovic’s fitness in the seventh game. A backhand into the net at deuce by Djokovic, handed Thiem a break points which he duly converted with a clever double.