(Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem will face each other first up and it will be followed by the women’s singles final between Ash Barty and teenager Marketa Vondrousova)
“All the time someone reaches the final here, it is against Rafa. He is the favourite of course, he is in his 12th final. I am only in my second,” say Thiem after his win.
The fourth seed, youngest active male player to play in a Grand Slam final, can he change last year’s result?
With this epic five-set win, Thiem also breaks Djokovic’s run of 26 consecutive Grand Slam wins, stretching back to Wimbledon. His last Major loss came at Roland Garros as well, a stunning loss in the quarter-finals to Cecchinato last year.
This also ends the world No 1’s hopes of becoming the second man to hold all four Majors at the same time.
Dominic Thiem beats Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, 5-7, 7-5!
He wasted two match points on serve but converts the third on Djokovic’s serve to reach his second straight French Open final, where he will meet Rafa Nadal again.
A solid return from behind the baseline and Djokovic sends his shot long but Djokovic comes back with a volley winner. The next point is an odd one... Djokovic gets it with an overhead but has a word with the chair about an apparent double bounce from Thiem.
A second cross court volley winner gives him the game point but it goes to deuce after he returns long. A solid first serve gives him the advantage and but a relentless Thiem forces a net error to bring up deuce No 2.
And Thiem has his third match point when Djokovic returns a backhand slice into the net and THIEM WINS WITH A WELL-CONSTRUCTED FOREHAND WINNER!
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, 5-6
A love hold for Theim. If only he had done this in the last game, right?
Crazy momentum shifts in the game... for the second straight day!
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, 5-5
Djokovic serving at 4-5 to stay in the match, technically.
Thiem gets a good point with an one-the-line backhand winner after going 30-0 down and an error from the other side promptly follows to make it 30-30. But Djokovic gets a game point when the ball pings off the net to fall out and he thanks the heavens for it, wrapping the game for 5-5 in the fifth.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, 4-5
Djokovic saves 2 match points to break Thiem!
What a match this is, the top seed just not giving up. Thiem serving for the match, holds his nerve and and gets a double match point after two more errors from Djokovic. He squanders the first one as he nets his backhand after a shaky second serve and the second goes when his backhand sails long.
And Djokovic has a break point when Thiem sends another stroke long and is broken when he finds the net again. No winners from Novak, all errors from Dominic.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, 3-5
What have we here, Thiem breaks back!
He was leading 30-0 but unforced errors from Djokovic gives Thiem a break point and he converts when the top seed dumps his shot into the net. Chance to serve out the match now.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, 3-4
Djokovic puts the fifth set back on serve!
Starts attacking Thiem’s serve and goes 30-15 up but a long forehand levels the score. The world No 1 gets a precious break point after a long rally with a strong play at the net. Theim pulls to deuce and once again, a good volley brings up a break point. This time, Djokovic gets the break as he returns a drop shop that his opponent lobs long.
The world No 1 starts conducting the crowd after that play!
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, 2-4
Drama on the very first point! Thiem gets a break point after a wrong line call. Hawkeye on TV shows that it was long and Novak stops play, has an argument with the chair umpire, but the call stands.
He saves it and then goes on to hold from deuce after all that delay & controversy.
Time to re-start!
It’s been more than a hour since the last point.
Players in the locker room getting ready to come back on court after another delay.
Djokovic seems in a light mood, joking with his team and the cameraperson, the world No 1 seems pumped. Thiem, on the other hand, is all focused.
Play to start with a five-minute warm up.
Meanwhile, Leylah Annie Fernandez is the French Open Junior Girls’ Champion.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, 1-4 – Rain delay
40-40 and the rain comes down hard. The players are off. The crowd is running for cover. This should help Djokovic more than Thiem. Too many unforced errors from the Serb at the moment.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, 1-4
Thiem consolidates the break with a nervy hold. He went up 40-0. Then, a couple of errors made it 40-30 before the Austrian sealed it. Djokovic making too many errors at the moment – just not the player we know he can be.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, 1-3
Three unforced backhand errors gave Thiem a 0-40 advantage. And then another error got the Austrian the break. There will be more break but any advantage is welcome.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, 1-2
Near brick wall-like defence earned Djokovic his breakpoint. But Thiem somehow saved the point and went on to hold his ground. Neither player is giving an inch. This could very well be the making on Thiem the Grand Slam player.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, 1-1
Some stunning tennis on display now. A wonderful crosscourt touch volley gave Thiem his first breakpoint of the set but Djokovic saved that by peppering the backhand. And then held on to his serve too. This is tense stuff.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, 0-1
Thiems hold at love to begin the fifth set. An important hold to begin things. In his last 10 fifth sets, Djokovic is 9-1.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, 0-0
Both players have taken a bathroom break.
6-6 – Thiem’s record in five-setters.
29-9 – Djokovic’s record in five-setters.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5
We are going to the distance. Thiem fought hard but in the end, his nerves got the better of him. Lots of unforced errors in the last few games gave Djokovic the small advantage he needed and the Serb made it count.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 6-5
Tight game from Thiem and Djokovic breaks. What a time to break! Djokovic will serve for the fourth set now.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 5-5
Easy hold for Djokovic thanks to three unforced errors from Thiem and now the pressure shifts to the Austrian.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 4-5
Solid hold for Thiem and he is game away from getting into the final for the second year running. He didn’t miss a first serve in the game.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 4-4
Thiem break back! Each time Djokovic moves ahead, the Austrian fights back. He is not going away and is now just two games away from knocking out the world no 1. Pressure.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 4-3
Thiem holds on, for now. Djokovic has raised his standard but it remains very, very close.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 4-2
Easy, easy hold for Djokovic. He back up the break and takes an important lead in the fourth set. The Serb is starting to pick on the Thiem slice and making it count.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 3-2
Djokovic broke Thiem at love. Three breaks of serve in a row as the world no 1 edges ahead again. This match has everything at the moment.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 2-2
An unforced error from the Djokovic forehand gave Thiem two breakpoints. He saved one with a wonderful drop shot-lob before another backhand from Thiem went into the net to make it deuce. A lovely backhand crosscourt drop shot gave Thiem another breakpoint. And he broke back after a lucky net cord went over the head of Djokovic who was coming into the net.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 2-1
Djokovic breaks! He goes up in the fourth set. A back crosscourt error from Thiem gave the game to the world no 1. Here we go!
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 1-1
Djokovic holds to love. He is taking his anger out on the ball. He has been given a warning for time between points and for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 0-1
Thiem holds easily to begin the fourth set. Djokovic looking unsettled here.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7
Warning for Djokovic for unsportsmanlike conduct.
After the break, Djokovic to the umpire: “You are starting the shot clock one second after the point ends.”
Umpire: “The rule is 25 seconds.”
Djokovic: “Yeah, right. Have you ever played tennis? So you know how it is in this situation at 5-6, long point, crowd still clapping? You made yourself a name. You made yourself recognisable now. You get all the credit. Well done, mate.”
The start of the shot clock is usually left to the umpire’s discretion but they can usually wait for the applause to die down before beginning it.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-7
Two brilliant shots and two unforced errors from Thiem made it 30-30. Another unforced error made it 40-30. And then Thiem found another winner to make it 40-40. The Austrian finally got a set point after it looked like Djokovic was disturbed by the shot clock violation. But consistent tennis helped Djokovic save it and then an angled backhand got him a game point.
Then, Thiem powered back a return to take it to the 4th deuce of the game. The Austrian got a second set point which Djokovic saved with a big serve.
A long forehand from Djokovic gave Thiem his third set point. And another big serve saved it.
Some wonderful defensive tennis kept Thiem in the point before a backhand gave him another set point, which this time, he won.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-6
Whenever Thiem is in trouble, his power is coming to his rescue. He can fire winner off the forehand and the backhand and that is making it difficult for Djokovic. A comfortable hold for the Austrian.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 5-5
Djokovic holding on to his serve easily today. A lovely backhand down the line made it 5-5. Thiem’s serve, on the other hand, has been put under immense pressure.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 4-5
One break opportunity in two and half sets yesterday and so many today. Another opportunity followed but Thiem came up with a gutsy hold. The tennis has been of a high quality so far.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 4-4
Djokovic is able to consolidate the break. He has won 3 of the 4 games today and he is certainly looking more composed today. Errors creeping into Thiem’s game.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 3-4
A Thiem backhand – after a 24-shot rally – went long to give Djokovic a breakpoint. And then the sheer depth of his shots forced an error. Djokovic has the break back. We are back on serve.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 2-4
Djokovic with an easy hold. Quickly puts the pressure back on Thiem. The world no 1 will not make this easy for Thiem.
Novak Djokovic vs Dominic Thiem: 2-6, 3-6, 1-4
Djokovic took it to 0-30 before a good serve down the T made it 15-30. It became 30-30 before a forehand – the third unforced error of the game – went long to give Djokovic a break point. A stunning forehand down the line helped Thiem save the breakpoint and take it to deuce. Another two big forehands helped the Austrian hold his serve. Big game this!
3.37 pm: The players are on court and warming up. We are almost all set to go. Not as windy today – and that will please Djokovic.
3:32 pm: Austria’s Thiem was leading 3-1 after the first two sets had been split. Will we witness a classic today?
3:30 pm: Hello and welcome to the live updates of the French Open semi-final between world no 1 Novak Djokovic and four ranked Dominic Thiem. The Austrian was looking in fine touch before rain called off play yesterday. Rafael Nadal moved into the final after powering past old rival Roger Federer in straight sets. Djokovic looked off colour in the first set and Thiem was all over him, taking the first set 6-2. The Serb fought his way back in the second and took the second, clinching it 6-3. Thiem found his groove in the third and was leading 3-1 when play was suspended for the day.