Thiem stuns Djokovic

Novak Djokovic was knocked out of the Monte Carlo Masters by an inspired Dominic Thiem in the third round on Thursday, with the Austrian fifth seed progressing to a possible quarterfinal with Rafael Nadal.

Thiem was the better player for much of the match and won 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 6-3 despite a battling effort from Djokovic. The 12-time Grand Slam champion has still not reached a quarterfinal since Wimbledon last July after an elbow injury.

Djokovic, 30, had said he was pain-free in Monte Carlo for the first time in two years, but Thiem backed up his French Open quarter-final win over the Serbian from last year with another impressive victory.

The 24-year-old will take on either world number one Nadal or Russian Karen Khachanov in the quarterfinals.