'%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 Marin Cilic
Date: 5 September 2020
Tournament: US Open 2020
Round: Third round (Round of 32)
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York, USA
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Prize money: $39,024,000
Match timing: 8.30 pm EDT, 6 am IST
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel / ESPN | India - Star Sports & Disney+ Hotstar VIP
Dominic Thiem vs Marin Cilic preview
Second seed Dominic Thiem will look to strengthen his bid for a maiden Grand Slam title when he takes on Marin Cilic in the third round of the 2020 US Open on Saturday.
The Austrian has struggled on the quicker courts at Flushing Meadows, losing in straight sets to Filip Krajinovic at the Cincinnati Masters which was played at the same venue as the US Open. The World No. 3 then battled to a victory against Jaume Munar in his US Open opener before seemingly finding his groove in the second round against India's Sumit Nagal, cruising to a straight-sets victory.
Thiem reached the final of this year's Australian Open and will be hoping to go one better in New York, although his route to the title is littered with big obstacles. The Austrian's next adversary will be 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic.
The Croat suffered an early exit at the Western & Southern Open and struggled for rhythm in his first two rounds of the US Open. Cilic needed five sets to see off the challenge of unseeded American Denis Kudla in the opening round, before a slightly improved display saw him overcome Norbert Gombos in the next.
However, it was far from smooth sailing for the former World No. 3, who trailed Gombos by a break in the third set before tightening his game and sealing a four-set victory.
Dominic Thiem vs Marin Cilic head-to-head
Dominic Thiem leads Marin Cilic 2-0 in their head-to-head, with both victories coming on hardcourt.
Thiem beat the hard-hitting Cilic at the Brisbane Open in 2016, the year in which the Austrian truly established himself as a top player. The two also met last year at the Coupe Rogers, with Thiem winning in straight sets.
Dominic Thiem vs Marin Cilic prediction
Dominic Thiem has not been in full flow at Flushing Meadows but like most top players, he tends to get better the further he progresses in a tournament.
One of the aspects of Thiem's game that has been highlighted in this tournament has been his return position, with the Austrian standing well behind the baseline to return his opponent's serves. While the tactic has reaped rewards thus far, it will be interesting to see how he fares against Cilic - who possesses one of the finest serves on the men's circuit.
The Croat is capable of hitting quality serves down the T and out wide with precision. However, his second serve has been shaky in this tournament, as shown by the eight double faults he delivered in his first-round match.
Cilic can take time away from Thiem with his aggressive baseline play. If the Croat's game holds up under pressure, he should be able to come away with his first-ever victory against the Austrian.
Prediction: Marin Cilic to win in four sets.
