|
 Djokovic needed four match points before finally prevailing
against the 22-year-old, whose thunderous forehands frequently had
the Serb on the back foot.
Thiem could not capitalize on his chances, however, and in the end
Djokovic's consistency proved the difference and he advanced after
one hour and 50 minutes.
"I stayed tough when it was most needed," Djokovic told the ATP Tour
website. "In the important moments I just tried to make him play,
make him run.
"He has very powerful strokes from the back of the court, so he
either makes some really amazing shots, down the line mostly, and
some great inside out forehands, or he makes a mistake.
 "It was a straight-set win, but far from easy."
Up next for Djokovic, who had nine double faults, his most in a
three-set match since 2010, is a quarter-final against Tomas Berdych
after the Czech beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4 3-6 7-5 in a
contest that stretched nearly two hours and 30 minutes in blistering
heat.
Japan’s Kei Nishikori beat Roberto Bautista 6-2 6-4 to set up a
meeting with France's Gael Monfils, who got past Grigor Dimitrov
6-7(5) 6-3 6-3.
Bulgarian Dimitrov had knocked out world number two Andy Murray in
the previous round.
[to top of second column] |
Another quarter-final pits Canadian 12th seed Milos Raonic against
Australian 24th seed Nick Kyrgios.
Raonic, who lost the Indian Wells final to Djokovic nine days ago,
demolished Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia 6-0 6-3 in less than an hour,
while Kyrgios edged Russian Andrey Kuznetsov 7-6(3) 6-3.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Larry
Fine/Peter Rutherford)
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