Dominic Thiem says it's time for him to finally break Grand Slam hoodoo as he enters French Open quarter-finals

Sport360 staff 21:04 03/06/2018
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  • Dominic Thiem said on Sunday that since he will soon turn 25, it is time for him to finally taste Grand Slam success.

    Thiem made it to the the French Open quarter-finals for the third straight year on Sunday after defeating Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-0, 5-7, 6-4.

    In the last two years, the Austrian has not managed to go beyond the semi-finals at Roland Garros.

    At the Australian and US Open and Wimbledon, Thiem has never gone beyond the fourth round.

    “I think for me it’s time to move on to make a great step, because I’m turning 25 (in September). I’m not that young anymore,” Thiem was quoted as saying by AFP.

    Thiem, ranked at eight in the world, used to carry tree trunks to improve his body mass and strength.

    In previous editions, it was Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal who defeated him at the French Open semi-finals in 2016 and 2017.

    Thiem said trying to win a major while Roger Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray are playing has been difficult.

    “At the Grand Slams, there are the ‘Big Four’. And the last ten years you needed to beat at least two of them in a Grand Slam to win, and not many players did it,” said Thiem.

    “Maybe it gets a little bit easier in the future when they are not that young anymore or when some of them stop.”

    Meanwhile, German second seed Alexander Zverev secured a dramatic 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 fourth-round win over Karen Khachanov and will face Thiem in the last eight.

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