Novak Djokovic’s Possible US Open Rival Stunned In The Western & Southern Open

The upcoming US Open is looking to be in favor of Novak Djokovic with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer out of the tournament. One star that can stand in Djokovic’s way is rival Dominic Thiem. The young star however fell short in the tune-up Western & Southern Open against Filip Krajinovic.

The Serbian delivered a straight-set drubbing of 6-2, 6-1 against the number three overall ranked player Thiem. It was out of character for Thiem to be defeated in such a dominant fashion but the outcome can also be attributed to Krajinovic’s aggressive play on the court.

"I think I started really well today. I was aggressive and I'm really happy that I'm in the third round," Krajinovic said by way of ATP.

The momentum of the match was in Krajinovic’s full control as Thiem was not able to bounce back.

"I don't think Thiem was playing today good tennis, but I took the chance and I think I deserved to win," Krajinovic added.

It was unlike Thiem to fall in such a manner considering he has given the world’s top stars a run for their money in previous Grand Slams. This was evident in this year’s Australian Open as he competed in a tough five-set thriller against Djokovic. While it wasn’t enough for him to garner the championship, it propelled Thiem’s ranking to one of the best in the world.

"It was just a horrible game by myself. Didn't play well at all. Didn't get any rhythm. I felt like I didn't win any points on his serve," Thiem said after the match.

The caliber Thiem performed was not up to his standards as he emphasized that he’ll look to improve in the immediate future.

"I had [a lot of] trouble with returning. It's tough to understand right now, but, I will think about it and hopefully, I'll find better answers in the next days,” Thiem added.

The upcoming US Open will push through despite the ongoing threat of the coronavirus. The organizers ensure that proper pandemic protocols will be followed as players such as Djokovic and Thiem look to add to their success from August 31 until September 13.