ATP: Thiem invites Djokovic to a duel: “High Noon” in Monte Carlo

The day of the Round of 16 at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo is a tough one: Dominic Thiem demands Novak Djokovic – four Germans want to reach the quarter-finals.

(2nd match after 11:00 am on Court Rainier III, live on SKY and in our Live-Ticker)

Felt this match comes at least two rounds too early. That Thiem is allowed to play against the “Djoker” at all is also thanks to Andrey Rublev – the Russian’s match point only sailed a few centimetres out in round two. Anyway: Despite too high an error rate, Thiem was able to bring his extraordinary sense for the red underground to bear in the decisive moments.

Against Novak Djokovic, however, Austria’s number one must put at least one shovel on top. In the clash with the tough Croatian Borna Coric, the two-time Monte Carlo champion confirmed his upward trend – even though nine missed match points are not a glorious hand.

The 5:1 lead in direct comparison speaks for Djokovic. If you take the shape curves of the protagonists as a yardstick, a duel at eye level is more likely to take place. It is quite possible that the history of the French Open 2017 will be repeated: Thiem’s quarter-final success against Djokovic was followed by the “Mission Impossible” against Rafael Nadal. In the Principality, too, there could be a power struggle with the world number one – this time already in the round of the last eight.

(1st match from 11:00 am on Court Rainier III, live on SKY and in our Live-Ticker)

Alexander Zverev had his problems with the cold and wet conditions in his evening match against Gilles Müller. The organizers of the Monte Carlo Country Club have kindly complied with the wish to schedule it earlier.

Against compatriot and Davis Cup colleague Jan-Lennard Struff, Zverev is allowed to open the round of 16 on the Centre Court. Quite a few experts had pre-booked Fabio Fognini a place in the round of the last 16. However, the Italian had to learn painfully that “Struffi” can shoot almost any opponent off the field on good days.

Should the Warsteiner again grow beyond himself, he could enter the quarter-finals of a 1000 for the first time. However, the balance speaks for the German number one: both matches on the ATP tour were won by Zverev – in Munich (2017) and Barcelona (2016); both on clay.

(2nd match after 11:00 am on Court des Princes, live on SKY and in our live scores)

The tragic Davis Cup hero has shown his best side against last year’s finalist Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Kohlschreiber’s slip in Marrakech, when he failed quite shamefully against Lamine Ouahab, the world number 617 at the time, is no longer an issue.

It cannot be ruled out that “Kohli” will also cheat the current ATP World Champion. Dimitrov had missed a lot in his three-set victory against Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who should not be a stumbling block on sand. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian had won the only comparison with Kohlschreiber to date in Madrid last year.

Here the single tableau in Monte Carlo