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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?
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.