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PARIS. — The French Open was lambasted as “one big circus” by Tomas Berdych yesterday as soggy weather once again exasperated players seeking a foothold in the semifinals of the rain-hit claycourt major.

Novak Djokovic was lucky to escape being defaulted and Austrian tyro Dominic Thiem provided plenty of entertainment as they finally caught up with the bottom half of the men’s draw by setting up a cross-generational semifinal. With Andy Murray and defending champion Stan Wawrinka enjoying a welcome rest day after booking their last-four showdown a day earlier, world No 1 Djokovic was back on court for a third day running and again had to dodge the showers as he sealed a 6-3 7-5 6-3 win over a fuming Berdych. Only a few hundred shivering spectators felt able to brave a gloomy Court Suzanne Lenglen – which can seat more than 10 000 – to watch 13th seed Thiem’s racket skills.

The 22-year-old reached the last four of a major for the first time with a 4-6 7-6(7) 6-4 6-1 win over Belgium’s David Goffin. — Reuters.