Defending champion Djokovic crashes out of French Open

World number two Novak Djokovic has failed to advance to the semifinal of the ongoing French Open after crashing out in the quarterfinal in a 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 6-0 defeat to Dominic Thiem on Wednesday.

The defending champion fell to the man he beat in the semi-finals in 2016, and will not participate in the last-four of a Grand Slam for just the second time in his career.

“The last couple of tournaments I have had some great tournaments and it was unfortunate to finish Roland Garros in this way,” said Djokovic.

“This is a whole new situation for me, not winning a big tournament for eight or nine months – this hasn’t happened for a while.

“All the top players have gone through that and I guess I have to learn lessons and figure how get through. It is a big challenge and I’m up for it.”

Read Also: Nadal, Djokovic advance to last-8, on course to meet in semis

Thiem will now face Rafael Nadal in the last four.

Nadal won his 100th five-set clay-court match to reach French Open semi-finals as his opponent Pablo Carreno Busta retires earlier on Wednesday.

The world No. 4 was thumping Pablo Carreno Busta 6-2 2-0 on Philippe-Chatrier when his compatriot was forced to pull out.

A Nadal-Thiem semifinal clash at the Roland Garros will also be an epic tie, as Thiem remains the only man to have beaten the Spaniard on clay in 2017.

 

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