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Novak Djokovic has played 1,075 matches in his career.
Rarely has he experienced the shot-making pyrotechnics Dominic Thiem pulled off today in London.
More: Thiem Battles Past Djokovic
Thiem rode a wave of winners battling back from 1-4 down in the tie break to edge Djokovic for the first time on hard court 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(5) to secure his spot in the ATP Finals semifinals.
Straddling the baseline, the two-time Roland Garros runner-up ripped the ball off both wings disarming one of the game's best defenders with drives down the line
"I don't think I have experienced too many matches like this where my opponent just goes for every single shot," Djokovic said afterward. "I mean, he was unbelievable, and in some stages it was just incredible that he was just literally smacking the ball as hard as he can and he was going in.
"Of course his level was super high. This today was unbelievable. But whether he can keep that up every match, if he does, chapeau, you know. There is not much you can say. For sure, he's playing great tennis."
The fifth-seeded Austrian, who knocked off Roger Federer on Sunday, improved to a Tour-best 15-2 in decisive-set matches this season in reaching the final four for the first time.
"I thought he deserved to win," Djokovic said. "He just played very courageous tennis and just smacking the ball. He went for broke. I mean, the entire match he played same way he played the last point.
"I mean, I have to put my hat down and congratulate him, because he just played a great match."
Photo credit: Christopher Levy