Novak Djokovic’s dream of becoming just the second man in history to hold all Grand Slam titles at the same time twice was crushed by Dominic Thiem at Roland Garros on Saturday.
Thiem downed the world number one 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 toset up a repeat of last year’s final against 11-time winner and defendingchampion Rafael Nadal. Djokovic, who was second best to Thiem when it came tomastering the gloom, wind and damp of Paris, was bidding to join Rod Laver inthe Grand Slam history books. However, it’s 25-year-old Austrian fourth seedThiem who goes on to face Nadal where he will be buoyed by having defeated the17-time major winner four times on clay in his career.
He will also attempt to become just Austria’s second GrandSlam men’s champion after Thomas Muster won in Paris in 1995.Djokovic broke for a 2-1 lead in the fourth setonly for the Austrian to level courtesy of an outrageous net cord which flewover the stranded Serb’s head. The top seed broke again for 3-2, held for 4-2but the dogged Thiem would not relent and brought the set back on serve at 4-4.However, Djokovic prevailed to send the match into a decider.