After 419 days without a win, Dominic Thiem wants to find his way back to success on Tuesday at the ATP Challenger in the city of Salzburg (around 6 p.m.). After seven first-round defeats, the tennis pro is hoping for his first win. At a press conference in Salzburg on Monday, he admitted that he had returned to the tournament too soon following suffering a tough wrist injury. “The clear goal now is to win – no matter once morest whom.”
For the 28-year-old from Lower Austria, it’s all regarding points and self-confidence. The former US Open winner recently slipped to 346th in the world rankings. Thiem does not yet know his opponent for tomorrow. It will be a qualifier to be determined only following Monday followingnoon’s elimination. “With the many defeats, there wasn’t a single match where I had the feeling that I played really well,” he said. At the first comeback there was still a lack of training time, now he is fit once more.
Thiem recently worked on his form in Barcelona – and recaptured a lot of his old tennis there, as he said today. “My wrist has been good for a long time, and I’ve been fit once more physically for a long time. The problem was how I used my forehand.” After almost a year out of action, all the automated movements were gone. “The goal is for me to be able to do damage once more with my punches. That’s the only way I can win a match. Now my forehand is back to what it was before the injury – but maybe not as consistent.” That’s why he doesn’t want to be pinned down to a win at the start in Salzburg.
After his decision not to play in Wimbledon, Salzburg was exactly the right place for a new start – not only because the Lichtenwörther spent a lot of time here during rehabilitation. “The tournament has a top line-up – with some really big names. The entire Austrian elite is at the start for this. It doesn’t get any better than that.” In addition to Thiem, there are three former top 10 players, Fernando Verdasco from Spain and Gilles Simon from France, and six other players come from the top 100.
After training sessions yesterday and today, Thiem wants to focus his full attention on the match on Tuesday. After Salzburg, tournaments in Båstad, Gstaad and Kitzbühel are on his agenda. “Depending on how things go there, it will decide how early I go to America. But I’m hoping to slowly play my way back to the big tour.”
Not only Thiem was on the podium at the press conference, but also state champion Lukas Neumayer. “I feel in top shape – and I have nothing to lose. I’m happy regarding the opportunity to play in such a big tournament,” said the 19-year-old from Salzburg. His opponent Simon is almost twice his age. “I only know him from TV. But I will have my chances if I play my best tennis.”
(APA)
Image: GEPA