French Open: Defending champion Novak Djokovic crashes out

Novak Djokovic lost to Austria's Dominic Thiem . Picture: AP

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Thiem showed why he is one of the most exciting young talents in the game, blasting 38 winners in a stunning 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 6-0 victory.

But Djokovic looked a shadow of the player who won here 12 months ago to become the first man since 1969 to hold all four grand slam titles at the same time.

The Serbian virtually gave up in the third set in what was a shocking end to his title defence.

The result was all the more remarkable given Thiem won just a single game the last time they met at the Italian Open in Rome three weeks ago.

He had only won one set in all their five previous meetings and lost easily to Djokovic here in the last four 12 months ago.

But that was a very different Djokovic. Even if it was clear something was still missing during his earlier rounds, no one would have expected the match to go quite like this.

Djokovic led 4-2 in what was a brutally physical first set lasting 73 minutes but played a poor game to hand Thiem the break back, serving two double faults.

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Djokovic then had two chances to take the set at 15-40 on Thiem’s serve in the 10th game but the 23-year-old saved them both in convincing fashion.

Conditions were cool and windy, with the court playing slow, but Djokovic could not blame that for the three awful backhands he played to give away the tie-break.

It was another sign that the Serbian is still searching for the mental and physical resilience that made him such an immovable force.

Thiem was showing all his considerable skills, flashing backhand winners down the line and punishing Djokovic with his heavy forehand.

He quickly moved 3-0 ahead in the second set and, although Djokovic initially showed some fight, it soon drained away.

The final set was the first time Djokovic has lost a set to love at a grand slam since the US Open in 2005.

Nadal moved into a 10th French Open semi-final after opponent Pablo Carreno Busta retired.

Carreno Busta received treatment for an abdominal problem at the end of the first set before calling it a day with Nadal leading 6-2 2-0.

The title favourite, who has gone on to lift the trophy the other nine times he has made the last four, has lost just 22 games in five matches so far.