'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Match details
Fixture: Dominic Thiem vs Hugo Gaston
Date: 4 October 2020
Tournament: Roland Garros 2020
Round: Fourth round (Round of 16)
Venue: Paris, France
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Red clay
Prize money: Approx. €38,000,000
Match timing: Approx. 6 pm CEST, 9.30 pm IST
Live telecast: USA - NBC Sports / Tennis Channel | India - Star Sports Select / Disney+ Hotstar VIP | Europe - Eurosport
Dominic Thiem vs Hugo Gaston preview
20-year-old Hugo Gaston produced one of the upsets of the year when he knocked the mighty Stan Wawrinka out of Roland Garros in five sets on Friday. Now, in the fourth round, the Frenchman will lock horns against one of the favorites for the 2020 French Open - Dominic Thiem.
The Austrian seems to be going from strength to strength despite facing a challenging opening week. In his third-round match, Dominic Thiem outclassed the talented youngster Casper Ruud in straight sets.
The World No. 3 is yet to hit full gear but has still managed to make it to the last 16 without dropping a set. He has dispatched big-hitters such as Marin Cilic and Jack Sock with ease, without ever needing to bring out his best tennis.
Thiem will especially be pleased with how his forehand is currently operating. That is arguably his strongest weapon, and Casper Ruud was reduced to a spectator as the Austrian hammered a barrage of powerful inside-out forehands past him.
The 2020 US Open champion is slowly rounding into the kind of form that he would need to have while potentially facing Diego Schwartzman, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic one after the other. However, he would first have to stop the juggernaut that is France’s Hugo Gaston.
The unheralded youngster has produced a sensational defensive performance on his main draw debut at Roland Garros, and nowhere was that more evident than in his match against Stan Wawrinka.
The powerful Swiss went hammer and tongs off both wings but Gaston managed to somehow remain firm and prolong the rallies. That paid dividends and eventually led to Wawrinka getting worn out.
Buoyed by the greatest victory of his fledgling career, Gaston will no doubt be keen to do a repeat against Dominic Thiem.
Dominic Thiem vs Hugo Gaston head-to-head
These two players have never played on tour before, so the head-to-head between Dominic Thiem and Hugo Gaston currently stands at 0-0.
Dominic Thiem vs Hugo Gaston prediction
Hugo Gaston did a lot of things right against Stan Wawrinka. His backhand was effective in widening the court, his serve was strong enough to test the Swiss’ returning ability, and his net play was quite deft as well.
That said, what stood out the most was Gaston's tenacity. His ability to go on lung-bursting retrieval runs all across the court was the single most important factor in his third-round win, and it would likely serve him well against Dominic Thiem too.
But Gaston must keep in mind that the Austrian will not give him as many free points as Wawrinka did. Thiem is quite adept at constructing points himself, and in his first three rounds he has been careful about opening up the court before pulling the trigger.
Thiem's defense has been on point too, and hitting through him would be next to impossible for the inexperienced Gaston.
Prediction: Dominic Thiem to win in straight sets.
