Defending Champion Djokovic Knocked Out in French Open Quarters

Novak Djokovic was knocked out in the quarter-finals of the French Open after losing to sixth seed Dominic Thiem.

Novak Djokovic was knocked out of the French Open. (Photo: AP)

Defending champion Novak Djokovic was knocked out in the quarter-finals of the French Open after losing 6(5)-7, 3-6, 0-6 to sixth seed Dominic Thiem on Wednesday.

Djokovic, bidding for a seventh consecutive semi-final spot at Roland Garros, squandered two set points in the opener before losing the tiebreak and his game then fell apart.

Thiem, beaten 6-1 6-0 by Djokovic in Rome last month, could hardly believe his luck as his Serbian opponent waved the white flag in the third set, losing it in 20 minutes.

Nothing was going my way and everything was going his way. He deserved to win, he was definitely the better player today. He made it difficult, he has really heavy spin and plays quick.

Novak Djokovic

It was 12-times grand slam champion Djokovic's first defeat before the semi-finals in Paris since 2010 when he was also beaten by an Austrian, Juergen Melzer.

It was just not there for me today. It’s unfortunate to finish at Roland Garros the way I did today. It’s a fact that I’m not playing close to my best.

Novak Djokovic

Thiem, who reached the semi-finals last year when he lost to Djokovic, will face nine-times champion Rafa Nadal next for a place in the final. The 23-year-old Austrian beat Nadal last month in Rome, in the Spaniard's only loss on clay this season.