2019 Indian Wells R4 - [7] Dominic Thiem vs Ivo Karlovic

[The Green Mile]

This will be a first meeting between the two players, always fun to watch a player go up against Ivo for the first time. The draw has opened up considerably in the top half, solid chances for a lot of players to go deep this week.

Thiem dismantled Simon in straights, always looks great against Simon, but he is enjoying these conditions. Ivo swatted Gunneswaran away, nice serving and mental performance.

Scheduled for stadium 2, not before 6:00 pm, local time...

 

[tennisaddict]

Going with Dr Ivo in final set Tiebreak 7-5

 

[The Green Mile]

Stadium 2 are in for a treat tomorrow, Raonic, followed by Isner, followed by Karlovic. What a day.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Hyped for this.

 

[The Green Mile]

Starting soon, should be on court in 15 or so minutes. From returning Simon's serve to Ivo's, yikes.

 

[Freddy Cat]

Don't know what to expect for this match-up, tbh. Thiem's groundstrokes are extremely accurate, which poses a threat to Ivo at the net. But Thiem will probably not have the luxury of being able to bully Ivo with his groundstrokes, and won't have as much time to really line up and tee-off on his shots with the pressure Ivo will be putting on him.

 

[BGod]

Karlo 7-6, 6-4.

 

[The Green Mile]

Thiem is just going to kick that serve on ad side all match long...

Ivo playing these return points on his own terms (go figure), hasn't executed anything so far. Consecutive love holds from Thiem, 2-1.

 

[The Green Mile]

A little too slow moving forward behind the 2nd serve and Ivo nets the backhand volley, playing closer to the service line. 15-30.

What serves lol, monster body serves...

Great hold, four body serves in that game. He's playing with tissues in his pockets?

 

[Freddy Cat]

I knew that Ivo had slightly changed his service motion more recently, but I only just noticed that, when serving from the deuce side, he's starting with his back foot medial to the court like all other players. He used to bring his back foot up from the outside.

 

[TopspintheTerrible]

This is going to be a boring one. Styles don’t compliment each other at all.

 

[The Green Mile]

Thiem missing only one first serve, sensible strategy from the Austrian, holds from 0-30 down. 3-2.

 

[The Green Mile]

Ivo laughing at that overrule, well in mate...

1st serve has gone a little AWOL here, but his 2nd has been quality. Must be averaging high 110s on the 2nd.

 

[Freddy Cat]

Hope Ivo can start finding range on his forehand pretty soon. He's been actually been decent on return so far, despite only winning 2 points, just been missing out when he gets the opportunity. Slice seems to be troubling Thiem.

 

[The Green Mile]

Thiem with the lob over Ivo's backhand, it lands long. 15-30...

Usually I'd say sloppy play when the opportunity is there, but we'll give Ivo the benefit of the doubt.

 

[The Green Mile]

Thiem breaks through, 6/4. Ivo gifting the break, unfortunate. Thiem exploiting the lack of 1st serves.

 

[The Green Mile]

Ivo not playing too well right now, lacking from the back of the court and his execution on basic shots has been terrible, worse than usual. Thiem cruising on serve like never before, leads 2-1 in the 2nd.

 

[The Green Mile]

Thiem coming up with some magic on the stretch, 0-30.......

Smartest match Thiem's ever played 3 BPs...

Thiem impressing, breaks on his 3rd chance.

 

[The Green Mile]

Points won on return:

Karlovic: 6/37
Thiem: 13/37

 

[The Green Mile]

Thiem with a grand total of three unforced errors, yes, you read that right.

These backhand errors from Ivo are getting embarrassing now, even by his standards.

Thiem holds comfortably for 5-2, 2nd set. Ivo does seem to have a little cold going on, something is going around...

 

[The Green Mile]

Clinical from Thiem, dispatches Ivo in straights. 6/4 6/3. Thiem giving Ivo a round of applause as he leaves the stadium, nice touch.

Only the 5th time Ivo has lost a match on a hard-court in under an hour.

 

[Freddy Cat]

Disappointing performance from Ivo.

 

[The Green Mile]

 

[underground]

Noooo Ivo was meant to make the final

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

Excellent. Servebot is out.

 

[Meles]

Ivo just outclassed from ground and could not handle Thiem hard and heavy shots. Got tight under pressure and coughed up the breaks with some sub par serving. Ivo could not get feet set to hit many heavy forehands.