Dominic Thiem, who has slipped to 54th place in the tennis world rankings, is back on the ATP tour today (2nd game after 11 a.m., Sky Sport Austria 3 live) after surviving the corona infection. “I’m healthy, fit and ready,” said the 28-year-old Lichtenwörther before his first round appearance at the 250 clay court tournament in Belgrade, where the Australian John Millman is waiting as an opponent.
Thiem cannot buy anything from the positive balance (3-0 in direct duels). It’s about putting on a much better performance than in the comeback match after the serious wrist injury on June 22, 2021. On March 29, Austria’s tennis star lost number 174, Pedro Cachin (Arg), 3: 6, 4 in Marbella :6. Millman is in 80th place and feels more at home on faster surfaces. Thiem should play that into his cards.
“Start Humble”
The 2020 US Open champion made a conscious choice for Belgrade and against Barcelona (ATP 500), where the newly crowned Monte Carlo triumphant Stefanos Tsitsipas (Gre) leads the strong field. Estoril (ATP 250) in the coming week is also a relatively small tournament that nourishes the prospect of match practice and a sense of achievement that Thiem urgently needs with a view to the French Open (from May 22nd). The 17-time ATP winner takes the path of small steps. “I’m willing to work hard and start humble,” said Thiem.
Although Belgrade is not so badly occupied now. If the Lower Austrian, who last won a match on the tour on May 12, 2021 (against Marton Fucsovics/Hun in Rome), survives two rounds, he would meet local hero Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals.
The Serbian world number one is attracting attention, it is the first official appearance in his homeland since he was excluded from the Australian Open, which he missed in January for violating corona regulations.
The 34-year-old guarantees a “cauldron atmosphere” at the Serbia Open, which is controversial for two reasons. When the Adria Tour stopped in Belgrade almost two years ago, the grandstands there were filled as if Covid-19 were a pipe dream. safety distances? masks? none. Because the tennis aces ended the tournament with a lavish party, a cluster in the men’s tennis circus was unavoidable. Thiem, who won the final against Filip Krajinovic (Srb) on June 14, 2020, was spared an illness at the time.
The second point of criticism is Serbia’s obvious sympathy for Russia’s head of state Vladimir Putin, the invasion of Ukraine is mostly appreciated. International sports associations are keeping their feet still, sanctions for the Belgrade venue were not an issue – neither at the World Athletics Championships in mid-March nor before this tennis tournament.
A worthy conclusion
Austria’s tennis women finished fifth in the Billie Jean King Cup in Europe/Africa Zone I with a 2-0 win over Turkey. Barbara Haas (WRL No. 238) played a singles for the first time since her arthroscopy in the impact arm in September 2021. The 26-year-old finished off Berfu Cengiz (No. 398) 6: 4, 6: 2. “Babsi played really well over long stretches,” said ÖTV captain Marion Maruska. Melanie Klaffner (No. 580) from Weyer also impressed in the 6:3, 5:7, 6:2 against Zeynep Sönmez (No. 551). “It was a worthy conclusion,” said ÖTV sports director Jürgen Melzer.
Source: Nachrichten
