Novak Djokovic Makes French Open Statement to Dominic Thiem at Miami Masters

If world No. 1 Novak Djokovic finally gets his French Open title, he might need to vanquish big-hitting Dominic Thiem.

In a sweat-drenched fourth-round rumble at the Miami Masters, King Novak fended off the rising 22-year-old, surviving the pressure points and winning with his championship formula.

It was a blockbuster match that lived up to billing if intensity and mettle were the standards. Djokovic’s 6-3, 6-4 win featured gutsy play even as both players missed opportunities and were forced into mistakes. It was two strong players slugging it out, a stark contrast to the recent challenges that Djokovic faced in neutralizing Roger Federer’s balletic variety.

It hearkened back to some of the physical brutality Djokovic faced against a younger version of Rafael Nadal.

The final stat sheet reared some ugly numbers even as Djokovic steered his way to victory by dictating his game with less risk. But haven’t we learned that Djokovic is the master at creating victorious chaos? Despite coughing up nine double faults and only six winners against 34 unforced errors, the Serbian made his statement.

"With one of 15 break points, you cannot beat anyone, probably," Thiem summarized to the Associated Press. "For sure, not Djokovic."

There’s a long road to Roland Garros, but for now it’s Djokovic’s roadshow.

Thiem’s Consolation

As Thiem edges closer to the top 10, he’s building his methodology behind heavy groundstokes and corkscrew topspin from a player who tees off with a one-handed backhand. His game is a budding takeoff of Stan Wawrinka in how he fearlessly hits through the court. Lacking only experience and winning truly big matches, Thiem is more electric and athletic than the more mature Swiss.

The chiseled Austrian is more in the mold of Marat Safin minus the combustible personality. Furthermore, Thiem’s already showing that he can keep his composure and belief when the chips are down. Andy Murray might have destroyed a few rackets and left a tapestry of obscenities hovering around the arena had he only capitalized on one breakpoint in 15 chances.

Thiem kept his nose to the grindstone and turned adversity into a street battle, forcing Djokovic to go to the well time and again to bail out his shaky service games. He did everything but break through the sound barrier on that last 14-minute game before finally bowing to a relieved Djokovic.

When Thiem moves on to the red clay at Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome, he will have more chances to set up his big groundstrokes with his youthful footwork and energy. His toughness on clay is already proven, and like a young Andre Agassi, he just might be able to hit his way through the field, or at least everyone but Djokovic.

Steve Tignor of tennis.com said: "Even a player with Thiem’s ball-striking skills can't beat Djokovic purely from the baseline." He opined that Thiem needed to move up when he had the advantage on the slow hard courts.

Maybe, but I’m going to disagree with Tignor.

Thiem could step in a few more times, but unlike Grigor Dimitrov who is reticent in coming in to the baseline, Thiem did hit with aggressive pressure and he can hurt Djokovic.

At times Tuesday, he was impatient after Djokovic had tracked down a great shot. Instead of reworking the point and setting up his scorching drives, he was too quick to go for an all-or-nothing shot that flew beyond the lines. That’s more mental than physical, something that he can solve with more big-match opportunities.

Thiem only needs to get better at playing like Thiem and push Djokovic into more uncomfortable shots. He was almost there with that one-hander, and versatility with his footwork will pay dividends.

Blast away, Thiem.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

The Djokovic Way

Sometimes antagonists of Novak Djokovic complain that he is too conservative with his offensive approach or that he pushes balls all over the court while others self-destruct. It’s not aesthetically relatable the way past legends have imposed their offense, but it’s more adaptable in poking holes in his opponents as they slowly bleed to death.

Who else but Djokovic could commit 100 unforced errors against soft-hitting Gilles Simon in the Australian Open only to come away with victory? Is there anyone else who could have pulled the plug on Federer’s relentless offensive attack at the 2015 U.S. Open? Djokovic is Deep Blue, a chess computer designed to defeat mere mortals according to how they attack.

Now having obliterated Nadal’s high topspin and demoralized Murray, Djokovic knows how to focus for a new dangerous opponent like Thiem. He absorbed the youngster’s best shots and dared him to swing away a little too much.

Like a master poker player with an inexhaustible bank account, Djokovic will play all night. He relishes tracking down tough corner shots and forcing mistakes.

This prime version of Djokovic is playing from the old-school handbook of the great Bjorn Borg. The superstar Swede always believed he only had to chase down the next ball and get it back in a tough spot. He put the onus on the other to be brilliant or pay the price. He was willing to hit 50 times to win a point and trust in his fitness, consistency and implacable nerves.

This is now the Djokovic Way, and it’s the leading bet to win the French Open in 2016.