Dominic Thiem made a decision with a heavy heart: Austria’s tennis star will also skip the first Grand Slam tournament of 2022, the Australian Open (January 17th to 30th) in Melbourne after the ATP Cup. “The big goal is Paris,” said the Lichtenwörther at a media meeting in September in St. Lorenz near Mondsee. The preparation is therefore fully geared towards the clay court season with the climax of the French Open in Roland Garros (May 16 to June 5), where Thiem reached the finals in 2018 and 2019.
Two weeks ago, the world number 15, who has not been active on the ATP tour since June 22nd because of a serious wrist injury suffered at the lawn tournament in Mallorca, canceled his tent in Dubai. A cold slowed Thiem’s comeback efforts, instead of going straight “Down Under” back home.
The wound has now been cured, Thiem believes he is back on a promising path. “I’ve recovered, now I’m fine again. My wrist is perfect, I train normally with very good intensity,” reported the 28-year-old.
Relapses to 50th place
Thiem has adapted his season program and will join the tennis circus on January 31 at the Cordoba Open in Argentina. Then the events in Buenos Aires (February 7th), Rio de Janeiro (February 14th) and Santiago de Chile (February 21st) – on red ashes – are on the to-do list.
The cancellation of the trip to Australia will have an impact on the ranking. 1200 points from the Melbourne finals 2020 are out of valuation, the US Open champion of 2020 should slide to position 50. “I’m sorry not to travel to Australia. Melbourne is a city that I love. I’ll miss the fans, but I’ll be back in 2023,” assured Thiem.
Because after the Lower Austrian Dennis Novak also canceled the ATP Cup from January 1st in Sydney “for health reasons”, the red-white-red team lost their starting place in the field of the best tennis nations.
At least one nominated individual player who appears in the top 250 in the world is a condition for a right of first place. Lucas Miedler, Alexander Erler and the dual specialists Oliver Marach and Philipp Oswald do not meet this requirement. (Alex)
Thiems tennis year in numbers
29. Jänner Nadal (Esp) – Thiem
Exhibition Adelaide 7:5, 6:4
2. Februar Berrettini (Ita) – Thiem
ATP-Cup Melbourne 6:2, 6:4
February 5 Thiem – Paire (Fra)
ATP Cup Melbourne 6: 1, task pair
February 8th Thiem – Kukuschkin (Kaz)
Australian Open, 1. R. 7:6, 6:2, 6:3
February 10 Thiem – Koepfer (D)
Australian Open, 2. R. 6:4, 6:0, 6:2
February 12th Thiem – Kyrgios (Aus)
Australian Open, 3. R. 4:6, 4:6, 6:3, 6:4, 6:4
February 14 Dimitrov (Bul) – Thiem
Australian Open, 4. R. 6:4, 6:4, 6:0
March 10th Thiem – Karatsev (Rus)
Doha, round of 16 6: 7, 6: 3, 6: 2
11. März Bautista Agut (Esp) – Thiem
Doha, quarter-finals 7-6, 2-6, 6-4
March 16 Harris (Rsa) – Thiem
Dubai, 2. Runde 6:3, 6:4
Seven weeks off, knee injury
4. Mai Thiem – Giron (USA)
Madrid, 2. R. 6:1, 6:3
6. Mai Thiem – de Minaur (Aus)
Madrid, round of 16 7-6, 6-4
7. Mai Thiem – Isner (USA)
Madrid, quarter-finals 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
8. Mai Zverev (D) – Thiem
Madrid, Semifinal 6: 3, 6: 4
12. Mai Thiem – Fucsovics (Hun)
Rom, 2. R. 3:6, 7:6, 6:0
13. Mai Sonego (Ita) – Thiem
Rome, round of 16 6: 4, 6: 7, 7: 6
20. Mai Norrie (Gbr) – Thiem
Lyon, round of 16 6-3, 6-2
30. Mai Andujar (Esp) – Thiem
French Open, 1. R. 4:6, 5:7, 6:3, 6:4, 6:4
June 22 Mannarino (Fra) – Thiem
Madrid, quarterfinals 2: 5, Thiem task
Balance in 2021: 19 games, 9 wins, 10 defeats; Greatest successes: Round of 16 Australian Open, semi-finals clay court tournament Madrid
Source: Nachrichten
