That would be scary for anyone else, but not Thiem. He's the only player to have beat Nadal on clay all season. And in straight sets, too, at the Rome Masters.
And 2-0 becomes 3-0. Thiem has a double break of serve. Crazy stuff here, and Djokovic is sliding and going into athlete-attack mode. It's not helping. Thiem concentrating quite singularly on the job at hand.
Couple of break points for Novak Djokovic ...but Thiem pulls it back in to deuce - and WINS the game! He's leading 5-2 now and only one game away from leading Novak Djokovic two sets to love. WHAT?
Djokovic holds a service game. But this lag will have got to him. And the signs of tiredness (mentally, perhaps not so much physically), are showing! Dokovic sends a routine return into the net and he looks..disappointed, for lack of a better word.
What is this? Usually once the adrenaline's worn down, players lose momentum. Thiem appears to be gaining it. He slots a forehand BEAUTIFULLY down the line and this is BREAK POINT #3.
This is obviously about the game to a large extent. But it's not just about the game. Dominic Thiem has exhibited singular mental fortitude here and he seals out the tiebreak 7-5.
Dominic Thiem takes the first set 7-6. Are we witnessing the makings of an upset?
Djokovic's service games are going far quicker than Thiem's and he's up now, but even he can't help but grin at just how good some of Thiem's shots have been.
Down 15-40, Thiem is absolutely not fazed. He's committed a few unnecessary errors and struck in the wrong direction needlessly. Djokovic could well have had the set a few points ago.
But his precision is unreal here, and mentally he's as checked in as Novak Djokovic
As Djokovic breezes in with a not-so-difficult hold of serve, Thiem is pushed to serve to stay in the set. 5-4 to the World No. 2 now, but a STUNNING winner down the line from Dominic Thiem!
And here's an error from DJOKOVIC! He sends it somewhere between 'just a little bit' and 'where was that going?' wide, it's past the tramlines, and Thiem brings scores to 3-4.
It's almost over as Thiem appears to send one juuuust long. Because we don't have HawkEye here, James Keothavong comes down to check. Djokovic reckons it's long, Keothavong reckons it's clipped the line.
Wow. This game will go the end and then some! Every time you think Thiem is struggling even a little bit - and he's not, he pulls it right back. When every single game goes to the edge like this, we're really in for a good one!
Already ten unforced errors from Dominic Thiem. Really feisty today but he would've had more, or earlier breaks of serve had that count been under control.
Ah well.
We're at our THIRD deuce of this game alone! Buckle up, folks. Looks like this'll be a long ride.
Holy goodness me... what a rally! Back, forth, back forth, and the ball spinning like crazy here and keeping low. Low enough that I thought it would go right into the net.
It doesn't.
Some really feisty work from Thiem here - and Djokovic sends it the tiniest bit long!
A great start for Thiem too! He holds serve putting his favourite cross-court forehand to great use and although he nets a couple, he's aiming really well - and these shots are landing really in the sweet spot! It's not just a show of power here from him but some great strategic tennis.
And it's a service hold for Novak Djokovic! The 2nd seed is looking aggressive and mentally 100% there - and more, but a bit too much aggression has sent a couple of his shots into the net. A 40-15 lead ends up at deuce, but not without a couple of brilliant aces from the Serb down the line.
Thiem playing well but sends one just a touch long, and that's GAME DJOKOVIC!
Djokovic with intent, runs into the net. Straight down the line. Pummels it. He's clearly in it to win it. Nadal or no Nadal, Djokovic fully intends to defend his title.
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