#RG17 day 11 wrap: Djokovic stunned by Thiem

There may have been six quarterfinals played out on a busy Day 11, but there was one story that dominated them all: Novak Djokovic’s defeat to Dominic Thiem. The defending champion was subject to his first bagel set since 2005 during a straight sets defeat against the inspired Austrian.

Djokovic stunned by Thiem

“Obviously nothing was going my way and everything his way. Just pretty bad set,” that was Novak Djokovic’s appraisal of his 20-minute third set bagel against Dominic Thiem. In an ignominious end to what had been a largely positive French Open campaign, Djokovic was beaten 7-6(5) 6-3 6-0 by the second seed.

While Djokovic’s third set performance will dominate the headlines, credit should go to Dominic Thiem. The Austrian, who had been swept aside by the Serb just a couple of weeks ago, took the match to Djokovic and edged the curcial first set tiebreak. A single break was enough to secure the second, before he handed the defending champion his first bagel since 2005.

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As Thiem said himself, “it doesn’t get any easier” from here, with Rafael Nadal waiting for him in Friday’s semifinal. The nine-time champion was leading Pablo Carreno Busta 6-2 2-0 when his fellow Spaniard was forced to retire from the match. It leaves Nadal on course for an historic tenth Roland Garros title.

On the other side of the draw, Stan Wawrinka is still to drop a set as he continues his incredible run of Grand Slam form. The Swiss star needed less than two hours to down Marin Cilic 6-3 6-3 6-1 and set up a semifinal meeting with Andy Murray.

Murray, another man who appears to have rediscovered his form when it matters, was far from his best during a lopsided 2-6 6-1 7-6(0) 6-1 win over Kei Nishikori. The Japanese superstar was utterly dominant in the first set, before Murray began to work his way back into the match.

“He was dictating all the points in the first set, making me move a lot,” Murray said after the match. “It was quite windy today and that made it difficult. Once I found a bit of rhythm I started to control things a little bit more.”

Halep sets up Pliskova semifinal

The favourite going into the tournament, Simona Halep fought back from the point of no return to beat Rome champion Elina Svitolina 3-6 7-6(6) 6-0. Svitolina seemed on course for a maiden Grand Slam semifinal when nerves took hold while she was leading by a set and 5-1. The Ukranian also squandered a match point in the tiebreak, before Halep romped away for the win.

“I started to feel more relaxed maybe because I thought it’s finished, and I change the rhythm,” Halep said after the match. “I put some high balls. I just tried to make her move more, to open the court, and it came. I don’t know how, but it was really good.”

Karolina Pliskova secured a spot in her maiden French Open semifinal with a straight sets win over Caroline Garcia. The Czech star, who can secure the world No.1 spot if she beats Halep in the semifinals, eased to a 7-6(3) 6-4 win in a little under two hours.