“In the end, that was far too little”: Dominic Thiem takes stock of the year

The Lower Austrian had to admit defeat to the French Ugo Humbert in the round of 16 at the ATP250 tournament in Metz, his last of the season, after a strong performance with 6:7(5), 6:4,3:6.

Thiem gave Humbert, currently France’s number one, who has been in top form in recent weeks, an exciting match lasting 2:40 hours. He stayed against the world number 23. patient and always fought back.

• Also read: The route was too short – the world record didn’t count

Against the strong server, the Lower Austrian had a great chance for a break in the eighth game, but wasted a 40-0 lead. Without either player losing serve, it went to the tie-break, in which the local hero from Metz narrowly had the better end.

Weak start to the year

In the second set, Thiem broke through Humbert’s service for the first time to take a 3-2 lead, but he quickly managed the re-break. But Thiem also dealt with this setback. The world number 95. took the lead 5:4 with another break and confidently served to tie the set. In the deciding set, Humbert managed the break to make it 5:3. The Frenchman fended off a break point from Thiem in the next game and used his first match point.

• Also read: Things are simmering in the WTA after the Cancun debacle

“It was a tough match, but really good against an opponent who plays really well, especially indoors, and serves really well,” said Thiem. Of course the defeat was bitter. “But I have achieved what I set out to do (at the recent tournaments) in Antwerp or Vienna, which is to be there every week.” The goal for the coming year is clear:

“I want to go through the whole season like I played from Kitzbühel onwards. Then hopefully the rankings will go up.”

Thiem described reaching the final at the home tournament in Kitzbühel at the beginning of August as his personal highlight of the season. “There were a few good tournaments, a few good matches – but ultimately far too few,” said the former US Open winner about his tennis year. “The beginning of the year up until around Wimbledon was forgettable. I performed far too rarely, it was really bad,” said the 30-year-old. Then things got better and better. “Now I’m making sure I prepare well so that I can be fully present from the first tournament.”