Thursday 19 April 2018 17:34, UK
Dominic Thiem ended Novak Djokovic's bid for a third Monte Carlo Masters title with a three-set victory to progress to a quarter-final with Rafael Nadal.
Thiem, a two-time French Open semi-finalist, was forced to produce some of his best tennis to win 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 6-3 despite a battling effort from Djokovic.
Thiem started strongly, but threw away three set points as Djokovic dug deep to claim the first set in a tie-break.
The Austrian recovered his composure midway through the second set and reeled off five consecutive games to send the match into a deciding set.
And he made the crucial breakthrough in the seventh game with a venomous backhand up the line, and sealed his second consecutive win over Djokovic - both on clay - with another break on his second match point.
"It's a way better feeling if you go against him and know that you've beaten him already on this surface," said the 24-year-old Thiem. "But it's the ultimate challenge for everybody, to play against him. I have to rise my level again. I think I'm able to do that."
Elsewhere, Milos Raonic's injury problems returned. After a strong return to form during the Indian Wells-Miami double, where he reached the semi-final and quarter-final, a knee injury put paid to his hopes in Monte Carlo and he withdrew from his match with second seed Marin Cilic. Croatia's Cilic will face either Kei Nishikori or Italian qualifier Andreas Seppi next.
Third seed Alexander Zverev needed three sets to beat fellow German Jan-Lennard Struff and he could face his brother in the next round if Mischa overcomes Richard Gasquet.
David Goffin held off a late fightback from Roberto Bautista Agut to reach the last eight with a 6-4 7-5 win, in a match that saw the Spaniard accidentally hit a ball boy with the ball.
"I just saw the ball going straight to the ball boy. I was surprised he only had a warning. For me, if you send a ball at the head of a ball boy, you're out," said Goffin.
"I don't know what the rules are exactly and how he could only get a warning. He was saying the ball bounced, and the ball boy just happened to be there. Unlucky for him."
The Belgian sixth seed will next face Grigor Dimitrov who came from a set down for the second match in succession to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 4-6 6-3 6-4.
Coverage of the ATP Monte Carlo Rolex Masters continues on Friday with all four quarter-finals live from 10am on Sky Sports Arena.
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