Djokovic beats Thiem to reach Madrid Open final

Tennis

Novak Djokovic defeated Dominic Thiem 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4) yesterday to reach the Madrid Open final for the third time.

Djokovic outplayed Thiem in both tiebreakers at the Magic Box centre court, converting on his first match point to set up a final against either Rafael Nadal or Stefanos Tsitsipas, who play later yesterday.

It will be the second final of the season for the top-ranked Djokovic, who began the year by winning the Australian Open.

A victory today will give Djokovic his 33rd Masters 1000 title, tying Nadal for most all time.

Djokovic, who won in Madrid in 2011 and 2016, had played only four sets in the Spanish capital this week ahead of the semifinals. He didn’t play his quarterfinal match because Marin Cilic withdrew with food poisoning.

The fifth-seeded Thiem, who beat Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, had won two straight against Djokovic and was trying to make his third straight Madrid final following losses to Nadal in 2017 and Alexander Zverev in 2018. The Austrian was also attempting to become the first player to win three titles this season, adding to triumphs in Indian Wells and Barcelona.

Thiem got off to a good start by breaking Djokovic in the third game of the match, but the Serb quickly got back on serve and then cruised in the opening tiebreaker, dropping only two points.

Thiem converted one of his many break opportunities to go 4-2 ahead in the second set, but again Djokovic quickly recovered, breaking back in the following game. The two exchanged two more breaks late in the set, and Djokovic eventually prevailed in the deciding tiebreaker.

Simona Halep beaten

Romania's Simona Halep missed out on regaining the world number one ranking as she lost the Madrid Open final to Kiki Bertens 6-4 6-4.

The title is the biggest of Bertens’ career and she will climb to fourth in the rankings tomorrow, making her the highest-ranked Dutchwoman in history.

She also becomes the first woman to win in Madrid without dropping a set.