Roger Federer vs Dominic Thiem LIVE: Swiss nears Djokovic semi after winning first set

ROGER FEDERER VS DOMINIC THIEM LIVE

SECOND SET

Federer 6-3 5-6 Thiem*

An ace down the T for Thiem seals the game. Pressure back on Federer.

*Federer 6-3 5-5 Thiem

Unflappable service game for Federer as he holds to love.

Federer 6-3 4-5 Thiem*

Just over an hour gone now. Service games for both players are going very quickly at the moment.

Thiem holds to love and Federer will serve to stay in the set next.

*Federer 6-3 4-4 Thiem

A stat from @TrudelSteph on Twitter – “When Roger Federer serves 75% or more 1st serves in he has a 49-2 record. He’s currently serving at 76.1% vs Thiem.”

Federer holds to love…

Federer 6-3 3-4 Thiem*

Another SABR from Federer, another pass from Thiem, 40-0. And Thiem gets a second love hold of the match when Federer frames a return.

*Federer 6-3 3-3 Thiem

Chance for Thiem as he gets to 0-30. Wow. Federer double fault. Three break points.

Federer saves the first as Thiem nets the return. Thiem then goes wide with a forehand. And Federer completes the job when Thiem goes long with a return.

And Federer shakes his fist in delight as he holds serve with a backhand winner.

Federer 6-3 2-3 Thiem*

Despite Federer’s brilliance, Thiem is looking in control on serve. Another routine service game.

*Federer 6-3 2-2 Thiem

A masterclass from Federer at the moment. Thiem was expected to dominate the baseline rallies but it is Federer coming out on top.

And he is looking unstoppable on serve. A hold to 15 here.

Federer 6-3 1-2 Thiem*

Big serving and even bigger groundstrokes from Thiem as he holds to 15.

*Federer 6-3 1-1 Thiem

Thiem rifles a backhand down the line which Federer flicks into the net.

Federer then hits a backhand into the net. Two break points.

Federer saves the first with a big serve. And he saves the second with a lovely volley to catch out Thiem.

And completes the comeback with a lovely forehand winner.

Federer 6-3 0-1 Thiem*

Better start for Thiem as he holds to love to begin the set.

FIRST SET

*Federer 6-3 Thiem

Federer goes just long with a forehand, 15-15 but gets ahead with an unreturned serve.

Two set points after a Federer ace. Thiem saves the first after Federer nets a forehand.

But Thiem goes long with a forehand and Federer takes the first set.

Federer 5-3 Thiem*

Federer passes Thiem at the net with a forehand, 0-15. Thiem misses with another mid-court ball. Chance for Federer, 0-30.

Deft drop shot from Thiem catches out Federer and he follows that with an unreturned serve, 30-30.

Thiem ace, 40-30. Big comeback from Thiem as he rifles a forehand winner into the corner. Federer to serve for the set.

*Federer 5-2 Thiem

Federer is dominating on serve and holds again to love. Just 21 minutes gone so far. 

Federer 4-2 Thiem*

After struggling in his opening service game, Thiem is now in a flow. No problems in this game as he closes out with an ace.

*Federer 4-1 Thiem

Another routine hold for Federer. Averaging just a minute on his service games. He holds to 15.

Federer 3-1 Thiem*

Federer brings out the SABR (Sneak Attack By Roger) but Thiem stay composed and passes the Swiss, 40-0.

Thiem gets on the board in the first set.

*Federer 3-0 Thiem

Perfect start from the three-time Madrid Open champion as he holds to love.

Federer 2-0 Thiem*

Thiem goes long with forehand, 30-30. But he responds with a forehand down the line. Thiem double fault, deuce.

Break point Federer as Thiem misses again with a forehand. Saved with a lovely forehand winner. 

Second break point Federer as Thiem puts a mid-court backhand into the net. And Thiem goes long with a forehand to hand Federer the ideal start.

*Federer 1-0 Thiem

Federer ace to start the match. But Thiem pulls him back to 30-all.

And a backhand winner down the line seals the opening game for Federer.

16:00: The players are out on the court in warm conditions on the Caja Magica.

15:55: Former British No 1 Greg Rusedski is backing Federer to beat Thiem and avoid back-to-back defeats to the world No 5.

“Thiem is the favourite no question about it to win this match,” Rusedski said.

“But I just feel Federer’s got some magic left. Also, this is a match where everybody is saying Thiem should beat Federer.

“Having to deal with expectation, pressure, the altitude where Federer serves well, uses the short slice and has the crowd behind him, it is not going to be so easy for Thiem.

“Federer rarely loses back-to-back-to-back to somebody. Federer’s got a lot of pride, he’s had a lot of preparation and rest.

“Federer got a little tired in the third set against Thiem in Indian Wells. I don’t think Federer is going to be tired today in the third set.

“He’s had perfect preparation coming into Madrid. Thiem is playing absolutely brilliant, was sensational in Barcelona and is doing all the right things.

“But this is Federer. Let’s not forget that. He is considered one of the best of all time and he doesn’t like to lose to anybody.”

15:40: Federer was beaten by Thiem in the Indian Wells final in March and speaking ahead of today’s match the Swiss said he was excited by the prospect of facing the in-form Austrian.

Federer told Tennis Channel: “Thiem has been really crushing it on the clay.

“So I know he is going to be a big test. And he is going to be one of the favourites regardless of what happens for the French Open.

“With Djokovic and Rafa he is right there as one of the top guys so hopefully I can play well and give him some troubles. I’m excited about the match so we’ll see what happens.”

15:25: The winner of this match will play Novak Djokovic in the semis.

Djokovic got through without having to play a match after Marin Cilic withdrew after coming down with food poisoning. 

15:00: Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Roger Federer’s quarter-final clash against Dominic Thiem at Madrid Open.