2017 Rome SF: [8] D Thiem vs. P Cuevas

[Krish872007]

2 excellent clay-courters will face off in their maiden Masters Semi-Final!

Edit: should be Madrid SF, not Rome!

The veteran Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas carries a slender 1-0 H2H lead into his match with Austrian super-star Dominic Thiem.

Each player is looking to reach his first Masters 1000 Final.

Who will prevail?

 

[Gazelle]

Have to go with Thiem on this one. Looks reborn after saving MP against Dimy. Cuevas might have a let-down match after several tough matches this week.

Gonna go bravely with Thiem in two.

 

[TheMusicLover]

Difficult one. Cuevas being very underrated imho, sneaking his way into this SF barely noticed, but having delivered very decent clay-court tennis on the way to do so.

On the other hand, Thiem showing his best mental fortitude when being able to beat Dimitrov in an absolute thriller. Not taking too many conclusions from his match against Coric today, who was obviously suffering some kind of upper chest muscle problem.

Winner wil take it in three is my guess. Slight upperhand for Thiem.

 

[amorys90]

Will be a fun one. Looking forward to seeing some nice backhands! Thiem in 3.

 

[Fedeonic]

Heart says Cuevas, head says Thiem in 3.

 

[gn]

Going with my partner meles in 3.

 

[mightyrick]

Thiem has been playing well and he really showed heart against Dimitrov. But quite honestly, when Cuevas goes deep into tournaments by scratching and clawing out wins -- the guy is dangerous against anybody.

This is hard for me to pick, but I'm going with Cuevas. I think he scratches and claws his way to another win against another good player. He's on a roll.

Cuevas in 3.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Thiem will eke out the win, but be pulverized in the final regardless of who's across the net on Sunday.

 

[metsman]

Thiem lucks out with QF/SF opponents...hope he actually takes the opportunity and doesn't mug the final.

 

[stringertom]

Going with my partner meles in 3.

Is there something you guys have been keeping secret? Are you having a Barry Manilow moment???

Pablo cruises in three for the fifth time this week.

 

[Terenigma]

I think you mean Madrid...

 

[tennis_pro]

It's 50/50 IMO, Cuevas surprised me one time too many in the last couple of weeks so I'm taking him seriously now. Thiem will really have to bring it because you can bet your life that Cuevas will.

Actually going with Cuevas here.

 

[Thundergod]

Have a feeling that Cuevas will win and bend over to Nadal(if Nadal wins).

 

[The Green Mile]

Thiem in 3 sets.

 

[underground]

Wrong thread title.

 

[TrustTheNinja]

cuevas to win and expose Meles's false dawn.

 

[3fees]

Meles in 2...no stringertom in 2 maybe,

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

This will be interesting match Cuevas has more experience and is a claycourt specialist , Thiem has youth , both are one handers bh &fh, Pabilto is on a roll and in past couple years is asserting himself more on clay,, tough one to call.

Cheers
3Fees

 

[Krish872007]

I think you mean Madrid...

Oh Christ, another error
I'm obsessed with Rome it seems

 

[zagor]

Would like to see Thiem make a masters final but have a bad feeling about this one. Cuevas is a crafty CC player, Thiem could implode and go down in a barrage of errors.

 

[bubuly]

I love both players ! But I will say Cuevas for his head prestige ^_^ !

 

[Bukmeikara]

Thiem lucks out with QF/SF opponents...hope he actually takes the opportunity and doesn't mug the final.

You really think that Murray would have stopped Thiem

So far this year, with 2 of the Big 4 being in bad shape, we have some pretty new faces in the semifinals:

Indian Wells - Careno Busta, Sock
Miami - Fognini
Monte Carlo - Ramos Vinolas, Pouille
Madrid- Cuevas, Thiem

 

[Lord Anomander]

Not taking too many conclusions from his match against Coric today, who was obviously suffering some kind of upper chest muscle problem.

I would suffer upper chest muscle problems too, if Thiem was throwing bombs at me.

 

[TheAssassin]

Nothing against Thiem but for some reason I think Cuevas would offer better resistance to Nadal/Djokovic in the final. The Uruguayan has been playing some beautiful clay court tennis as well, so I'll root for him.

Pablo in 3, vamos.

 

[Sysyphus]

Wow, so few votes for Thiem in straights. I think he takes it in two tight ones.

 

[jaggy]

it;s Thiem time

 

[stringertom]

OP is now our real Nostradamus, seeing for a bit less than a week into the future for a tasty 2R rematch in The Eternal City.

 

[Charleneriva]

Thiem vs Nadal final - again, please!

 

[Legend of Borg]

Have a feeling that Cuevas will win and bend over to Nadal(if Nadal wins).

as if thiem would do anything different?

 

[Charleneriva]

Oh Christ, another error
I'm obsessed with Rome it seems

Oh Krish. You haven't asked the mods to edit the title yet?

 

[Red Rick]

Wow, so few votes for Thiem in straights. I think he takes it in two tight ones.

Tell me Sysyphus. Is the jynxing working, or have your forsaken The Muzziah forever?

 

[Sysyphus]

Tell me Sysyphus. Is the jynxing working, or have your forsaken The Muzziah forever?

Wow, all three times I've donned the Noél avatar, he has lost. USO 16, WTF final, and today. Think I put it on during the Goffin match as well, now that I think about it...

Should I switch to a Thiem avatar to make Meles sweat?

 

[Poisoned Slice]

They are both ready to electrify.

 

[Gary Duane]

Wow, so few votes for Thiem in straights. I think he takes it in two tight ones.

That's my vote, and not sure they will be tight.

 

[Sysyphus]

That's my vote, and not sure they will be tight.

Could possibly be dominant, but I think Cuevas is too seasoned on the clay to not make it a bit tight.

But heck, the way things are lining up now, Thiem might turn out to be the closest contender to Rafa as we roll into Roland Garros. He's good on the surface.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Hope thiem even though he likely will lose to rafaelito. Cuevas would be too easy

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Could possibly be dominant, but I think Cuevas is too seasoned on the clay to not make it a bit tight.

But heck, the way things are lining up now, Thiem might turn out to be the closest contender to Rafa as we roll into Roland Garros. He's good on the surface.

His performance in the Barcelona final was crap.

 

[Sysyphus]

His performance in the Barcelona final was crap.

Nah, one solid set with chances, one bad set. He lost to the by far best clay player this year who has been breaking down everyone. In the big picture, Thiem is doing fine.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Nah, one solid set with chances, one bad set. He lost to the by far best clay player this year who has been breaking down everyone. In the big picture, Thiem is doing fine.

he is n3 in the race and breaking through is at the tip of his fingers

 

[Lord Anomander]

Bad luck for Thiem to be scheduled after Mladenovic/Halep. It surely doesn't help if you have less rest than Rafa. I just hope the women's match ends before 10pm.

 

[stringertom]

Hope thiem even though he likely will lose to rafaelito. Cuevas would be too easy

You underestimate the impact Jose Curveball has on his opponents. Even Nadal could wind up under the table from a shot or two of his poison.

 

[Meles]

That's my vote, and not sure they will be tight.

Cuevas is very hard to break. That will be the determining dynamic. If Thiem unable to pressure the Cuevas serve then this will be a tight match.

Cuevas will find a way to win this match by whatever trick or guile in his reserve. Thiem in 2, but if he comes out uninterested things could get ugly fast. We'll soon see if Thiem has mental issues because Cuevas will expose them.

 

[Meles]

Bad luck for Thiem to be scheduled after Mladenovic/Halep. It surely doesn't help if you have less rest than Rafa. I just hope the women's match ends before 10pm.

It will be after 10 pm. Halep failed to close out her match in 2nd set breaker.

 

[Meles]

2 excellent clay-courters will face off in their maiden Masters Semi-Final!

Edit: should be Madrid SF, not Rome!

The veteran Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas carries a slender 1-0 H2H lead into his match with Austrian super-star Dominic Thiem.

Each player is looking to reach his first Masters 1000 Final.

Who will prevail?

Cute poll.

 

[Meles]

Wow, all three times I've donned the Noél avatar, he has lost. USO 16, WTF final, and today. Think I put it on during the Goffin match as well, now that I think about it...

Should I switch to a Thiem avatar to make Meles sweat?

At this point I think you wear that avatar until Thiem loses, no?

 

[stringertom]

Bad luck for Thiem to be scheduled after Mladenovic/Halep. It surely doesn't help if you have less rest than Rafa. I just hope the women's match ends before 10pm.

It could be 2R Rome before they get on court...Mlad just took the second set TB and, of course, immediately took forever to hold serve in the first game of the third.

 

[PrestigeDave45]

Going with Cuevas in 2 or 3. Also expecting him to run deep in Rome and Paris. Love that poker face. Shades of Borg in the guy. Can play too, lovely service motion and great extension off both wings. Teak tough. Yeah Im a fan

 

[Meles]

Meles in 2...no stringertom in 2 maybe,

Cheers
3Fees

Stringer goat.

 

[fundrazer]

It could be 2R Rome before they get on court...Mlad just took the second set TB and, of course, immediately took forever to hold serve in the first game of the third.

Mladorkavic tilts me. Not sure exactly what it is, but I don't like her. And she's annoying me even more after winning that set.

 

[Meles]

Going with Cuevas in 2 or 3. Also expecting him to run deep himself in Rome and Paris. Love that poker face. Shades of Borg in the guy. Can play too, lovely service motion and great extension off both wings. Yeah Im a fan

Thiem fan, but became a Cuevas fan with what he did to Zverev.

A lot riding on this match as Thiem Cuevas collision destined 2nd round Rome too: