That was impressive from Novak Djokovic, who did well to recover after losing a tight first set. Maybe he should try hitting balls at his coaching staff more often. That outburst after the tie-break seemed to spark him into life and he looked more like his old self in sets two and three. That’s step one completed on the path towards regaining his No1 ranking. As for Dominic Thiem, it was a disappointing afternoon in the end, although he can take some encouragement from his performance early on. He’ll need to improve if he’s going to qualify from the group, though, something that shouldn’t be a problem for Djokovic. Thanks for reading. Bye.
Novak Djokovic wins 6-7, 6-0, 6-2!
Serving for the match, Djokovic earns three match points when Thiem knocks a forehand wide on the run. He only needs one, Thiem smacking a backhand return into the net to end the contest.
Third set: Djokovic 6-7, 6-0, 5-2 Thiem* (*denotes server): Thiem is looking forlorn as he slashes a backhand way long for 15-30, but he gees himself up with an excellent backhand winner for 30-all. But this rather sums him up: he follows that moment of brilliance with a ludicrous backhand that flies off the court. Djokovic breaks again as the Austrian nets a forehand; he’ll serve for the match.
Third set: Djokovic* 6-7, 6-0, 4-2 Thiem (*denotes server): Djokovic inches closer to victory, holding to 15 as Thiem dabs a forehand into the net. This has all rather fizzled out.
Third set: Djokovic 6-7, 6-0, 3-2 Thiem* (*denotes server): Thiem holds to 30. He’s hanging on. But he’s still in this.
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Third set: Djokovic* 6-7, 6-0, 3-1 Thiem (*denotes server): But hang on a moment. Thiem isn’t quite done yet, cracking a backhand down the line for a 15-30 lead. But can he carve out a break point? Nope! At 30-all, Djokovic finds the line with a forehand winner and he holds when Thiem screws a forehand long. Djokovic roars at his box, who respond in kind.
Third set: Djokovic 6-7, 6-0, 2-1 Thiem* (*denotes server): Thiem makes a promising start here, a beauty of a volley making it 15-0, before a crisp forehand winner takes him to 30-15. Yet Djokovic will himself to 30-all with a clever drop shot that draws a backhand error, before earning a break point when Thiem sends an unconvincing backhand long. Djokovic is always in control, unbalancing Thiem, coaxing the crucial error, a wayward slice, out of him to seize the advantage.
Third set: Djokovic* 6-7, 6-0, 1-1 Thiem (*denotes server): There’s more fight in Thiem now and he makes it 15-all, punching a forehand away when the ball sits up nicely for him in the middle of the court. Djokovic isn’t messing around, though, marching into a 40-15 lead and holding to 30 thanks to a pinpoint forehand.
Third set: Djokovic 6-7, 6-0, 0-1 Thiem* (*denotes server): Serving at the start of the decider, Thiem desperately needs to stop the rot, else this match is only going one way. That second set flew by. But he gets himself on the board here, holding to 15 when Djokovic gets a slice wrong. That’s more like it.
Novak Djokovic wins the second set 6-0 to level the match!
Facing three set points, Thiem musters some resistance, delaying the inevitable with a fine backhand return. He doesn’t make Djokovic work hard for the set, though, walloping a wretched forehand return miles wide, the kind of shot that suggests he’d quite like to get out of here. That was a risible effort from Thiem.
Second set: Djokovic 6-7, 5-0 Thiem* (*denotes server): The first set lasted more than an hour. This one is unlikely to last 30 minutes. His brain having popped out for a quick Sunday afternoon walk by the river, Thiem sends a backhand slice long and Djokovic breaks again.
Second set: Djokovic* 6-7, 4-0 Thiem (*denotes server): Djokovic is rampant now. Has he located his inner fire? He’s torching Thiem. The Austrian is looking suspiciously like toast. Mmmm. Toast.
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Second set: Djokovic 6-7, 3-0 Thiem* (*denotes server): While Djokovic enters warrior mode, Thiem is busily unravelling. Maybe he’s a bit fearful of what might happen if he dares win another set, having seen what’s happening on the other side of the net. A poor drop shot hands Djokovic another break point. He takes it. This set is over.
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Second set: Djokovic* 6-7, 2-0 Thiem (*denotes server): Looking to consolidate that early break, Djokovic holds to 30. Then he has a stern word with someone out of shot - it was quite possibly with his team again.
Second set: Djokovic 6-7, 1-0 Thiem* (*denotes server): Out for revenge, Djokovic stomps into a 0-30 lead at the start of this set, but Thiem responds with two coruscating forehand winners. Yet Djokovic earns a break point when Thiem miscues a forehand and he grabs an early head when the Austrian nets a backhand. That ought to calm him down. He wasn’t happy at the end of the first set.
Wow. #Djokovic loses the set to #Thiem then fires a ball at his coaches box. Never seen that from Nole. #ATPFinals
— Craig O'Shannessy (@BrainGameTennis) November 13, 2016
Djokovic smashed a ball in fury which almost hit his box. Received a warning.
— Dan King (@DanKing_1974) November 13, 2016
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Dominic Thiem wins the first set 7-6!
First set tie-break: Djokovic 10-12 Thiem* (*denotes server): At the end of a tense rally, Thiem eventually unleashes with a monstrous inside-out forehand to take the first set!
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First set tie-break: Djokovic* 10-11 Thiem (*denotes server): Djokovic knocks a forehand wide! Surely this time...
First set tie-break: Djokovic* 10-10 Thiem (*denotes server): Djokovic’s serve is too hot for Thiem’s backhand.
First set tie-break: Djokovic 9-10 Thiem* (*denotes server): Another one from Djokovic drifts long. Thiem has another set point.
First set tie-break: Djokovic 9-9 Thiem* (*denotes server): Thiem arrows a forehand into the right corner. Djokovic’s defensive lob just lands long.
First set tie-break: Djokovic* 9-8 Thiem (*denotes server): Thiem nets a forehand. Djokovic has his first set point.
First set tie-break: Djokovic* 8-8 Thiem (*denotes server): Djokovic saves it with a smash.
First set tie-break: Djokovic 7-8 Thiem* (*denotes server): Thiem earns another set point with a stunning backhand winner.
First set tie-break: Djokovic 7-7 Thiem* (*denotes server): Thiem manages to get a serve in the court this time. But this time a missed forehand lets Djokovic off the hook.
First set tie-break: Djokovic* 6-7 Thiem (*denotes server): Djokovic thinks he has this point won – but a desperate Thiem backhand clips the top of the net, taking him by surprise, and the Serbian can’t react in time! Thiem has a fourth set point!
First set tie-break: Djokovic* 6-6 Thiem (*denotes server): Thiem slaps a backhand into the net! Oh dear. Three straight set points have come and gone.
First set tie-break: Djokovic 5-6 Thiem* (*denotes server): Another double-fault from Thiem! What a choke! He’s still got one more set point, though...
First set tie-break: Djokovic 4-6 Thiem* (*denotes server): Thiem squanders the first with his second double fault of the tie-break.
First set tie-break: Djokovic* 3-6 Thiem (*denotes server): Djokovic is serving and volleying loads - this time, though, the move backfires as Thiem pings a backhand down the line to earn three set points!
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First set tie-break: Djokovic* 3-5 Thiem (*denotes server): Thiem attempts a backhand pass from left to right but Djokovic pulls off an astounding backhand volley!
First set tie-break: Djokovic 2-5 Thiem* (*denotes server): Thiem arrows a backhand from left to right and charges to the net to put a smash away. Djokovic is on the ropes.
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First set tie-break: Djokovic 2-4 Thiem* (*denotes server): Thiem serves well, Djokovic unable to get the ball back in play.
First set tie-break: Djokovic* 2-3 Thiem (*denotes server): Djokovic skips to the net, not for the first time in the match, but Thiem beats him with a stunning, stooping forehand down the line!
First set tie-break: Djokovic* 2-2 Thiem (*denotes server): Thiem balloons a backhand.
First set tie-break: Djokovic 1-2 Thiem* (*denotes server): Thiem double-faults.
First set tie-break: Djokovic 0-2 Thiem* (*denotes server): Thiem feathers a gorgeous backhand down the line.
First set tie-break: Djokovic* 0-1 Thiem (*denotes server): Djokovic spoons a forehand down the line past the baseline.
First set: Djokovic* 6-5 Thiem (*denotes server): Thiem has to hold to force a tie-break and he clambers into a 40-0 lead. He holds to 15. Tie-break.
First set: Djokovic* 6-5 Thiem (*denotes server): Thiem threatens to win the first point of this game, Djokovic scrambling around at the net, but he can’t take an opportunity when the Serbian curiously tees him up for a backhand down the line with a weird overhead. Thiem knocks it well wide. But he’s pressing now, ripping into a vicious 103mph forehand to make it 30-all, earning his first break point when Djokovic flaps a weak backhand into the net. This is A Big Moment. A lengthy rally ensues. But Djokovic catches out Thiem with a deep forehand, the Austrian spooning his riposte into the crowd. Deuce. Djokovic survives the scare. He holds. Can Thiem force a tie-break?
First set: Djokovic 5-5 Thiem* (*denotes server): Thiem needs to hold to keep the first set alive and moving into a 30-0 lead is a fine way to confront the challenge. The level of this match isn’t that high, to be brutally honest, and an error from Djokovic makes it 40-0. Djokovic hangs in there, making it 40-15 with a lovely drop shot, but he gifts the game to Thiem when he somehow wallops an easy forehand wide with the Austrian at his mercy.
First set: Djokovic* 5-4 Thiem (*denotes server): Djokovic holds to love easily again. Now the pressure is on Thiem. Although the Austrian hasn’t been broken yet, he’s not got a chance of winning this match if his returns don’t improve.
First set: Djokovic 4-4 Thiem* (*denotes server): The games to 30-all, Thiem mixing moments of inspiration with some utter nonsense, but the Austrian manages to get to 40-30 when Djokovic misses a forehand. Djokovic hangs his head in frustration, but the game goes to deuce when Thiem drifts a backhand slice wide. Thiem takes a while to hold, but he gets there in the end, his backhand beginning to purr.
First set: Djokovic* 4-3 Thiem (*denotes server): Thiem has stopped offering anything on Djokovic’s serve. It’s a rather sloppy first set. Some of Thiem’s returns have been dreadful.
First set: Djokovic 3-3 Thiem* (*denotes server): Thiem is trying to be aggressive with his groundstrokes, but there are times when he’s going for too much. He misses a forehand, then a backhand, to hand Djokovic a 0-30 lead. He’s in a bit of a hole here. Djokovic gives him a hand, though, and allows Thiem back to 30-all. Thiem holds to 30, Djokovic spluttering a backhand long.
First set: Djokovic* 3-2 Thiem (*denotes server): Djokovic holds to love. It doesn’t seem he’s too bothered about being the world No2 at the moment. Remember, if he wins every match here this week, he’s back on top of the world.
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First set: Djokovic 2-2 Thiem* (*denotes server): Djokovic had the trainer on during the changeover - he’s managed to cut his right thumb. He’s got a plaster now, though, and he behaved so well that the trainer gave him a nice lollypop for being a brave boy. He’s recovered sufficiently to win the first point of this game. Thiem races through the next three, though, an ace making it 40-15, but Djokovic takes it to deuce and earns a break point when the Austrian duffs a drop volley at the net. Djokovic can’t take it, though, sending a backhand return long. Thiem eventually holds with an ace. But Djokovic is knocking on the door.
First set: Djokovic* 2-1 Thiem (*denotes server): Thiem is here to play. He drags Djokovic to the net and pounces on a weak volley, thrashing a forehand away for 0-15. Djokovic hits back with an ace. The next rally’s tough, neither man giving an inch - until Thiem incorrectly challenges a Djokovic backhand that just kissed the line. The games goes to 30-all, but Djokovic does well to keep Thiem at bay and holds to 30.
First set: Djokovic 1-1 Thiem* (*denotes server): Thiem is likely to need a strong start here to settle any lingering nerves. The first two points are shared; he bangs an ace down the middle for a 30-15 lead. He dominates the next rally, pushing Djokovic around the baseline, and finishing the point with a smash at the net for a 40-15 lead. Then he slaps two forehands into the net, though, allowing Djokovic back to deuce. A brilliant backhand winner down the line is enough for Thiem to hold, though.
First set: Djokovic* 1-0 Thiem (*denotes server): It’s Novak Djokovic to open the serving in the first match of the 2016 ATP World Tour Finals. Milos Raonic and Gael Monfils are the other players in this group – they’ll be in action later. First it’s Djokovic v Thiem, and the man formerly known as the world No1 begins confidently enough, racing into a 40-0 lead. He wallops a forehand down the line to hold to love. What crisis?
The cameraman picks out Boris Becker, Novak Djokovic’s coach. But for how much longer? Word is that their relationship is on the rocks.
Tok! Tok! Tok! The players are out and they’re knocking up.
Get yourself in the mood for some top tennis action by watching a duel between Greg Rusedski and an idiot.
The encouraging news for Novak Djokovic is that Dominic Thiem’s recent form is awful. He warmed up for this tournament with a second round defeat to Jack Sock in Paris and the truth is that he’s struggled ever since his early withdrawal from his fourth-round match against Juan Martin del Potro at the US Open.
Preamble
Hello. If you’re capable of thinking back as far as 5 June 2016, you’ll be able to recall that the world back then was a ... different place. That’s putting it mildly. To delve into current affairs for a moment, thereby showing off the depth and wisdom that can be found on the Guardian sports desk, Brexit was still a few weeks away and Hillary Clinton was thinking about how she was going to decorate the Oval Office. Meanwhile Novak Djokovic had just thumped Andy Murray in the French Open, completing the career slam in the process, and he was looking good to dominate for the rest of the year.
In summary, WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN?! There are no certainties any more. Forget everything you thought you knew. Leave your assumptions at the door. Djokovic is no longer the world No1, his long reign at the top brought to an end by Murray last weekend, and he has been in the grip of a physical and spiritual crisis ever since Roland Garros. He imploded against Sam Querrey at Wimbledon (Sam Querrey!), wept after losing in the first round of the Olympics, crumbled against Stan Wawrinka in the final of the US Open and has recently been seeking guidance from a spiritual guru.
As much as Djokovic protests otherwise, all is not well in his world. He has lost to players he would barely have given a second glance to a few months ago and while respect remains, given that everyone knows that a fit and firing Djokovic is capable of, there is certainly less fear around at the moment. What an opportunity this is for young Dominic Thiem, who is making his debut in the ATP World Tour Finals after a fine year. The 23-year-old Austrian has risen to ninth in the rankings – Rafael Nadal’s injury opened up an extra spot – and he is becoming a fixture in the top 10.
A potential future No1, Thiem has a 3-0 losing record against Djokovic and took seven games off the Serbian at Roland Garros, when he reached his first grand slam semi-final, but he will know that his opponent comes into this match weighed down by fitness problems, dented confidence and recent surprise defeats to Marin Cilic and Roberto Bautista Agut. He will be wary, though, conscious that he is about to take on a wounded Djokovic, a potentially dangerous Djokovic, a Djokovic who is looking for a fifth consecutive triumph in this tournament and wrestle the No1 spot back off Murray. The mission to resume normal service begins here.
Play begins: around 2pm GMT.
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