PublishedMay 22, 2022, 1:51 p.m.
The former No. 3 fell in the first round of the Parisian Grand Slam. The Austrian has not tasted the joys of success since his return from injury.
Dominic Thiem has been weaned from victories since May 2021.
AFP
Dominic Thiem, double finalist at Roland-Garros, lost there on Sunday once morest the Bolivian Hugo Dellien (87th), in three sets, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, while he is struggling to come back following his long right wrist injury.
The 28-year-old Austrian, ex-World No. 3 now 194th, has not won a single match on the circuit since his elimination in the round of 16 in Rome in May 2021. Victim of wrist pain, he had put an end to his season following his entry elimination at the Mallorca ATP 250 in June. Back this year in March at the Marbella Challenger, he has yet to pass a single lap in six tournaments.
Too many unforced errors
At Roland-Garros, where he had been beaten in the final by Rafael Nadal in 2018 and 2019, he was this time taken by the throat at the start by Dellien who broke in the first set to lead 3-1 and keep its advantage. In the next two sets, the Bolivian immediately took his opponent’s service to break away 2-0 and thus win without shaking.
Thiem managed 29 winning shots ( once morest 15 for Dellien), but he committed too many unforced errors to hope to destabilize his opponent (42 once morest 14). Dellien will face in the second round the Russian Karen Khachanov (24th) or the Portuguese Nuno Borges (126th and from the qualifications). Dellien has yet to reach the 3rd round of the Major on clay.
First day and first surprise at Roland-Garros: the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, world No. 6 and main outsider for the title, was eliminated in the first round of Roland-Garros by the Polish Magda Linette (52nd) 3-6, 7- 6 (7/4), 7-5 Sunday.
Jabeur arrived in Paris with a title in Madrid, the most prestigious of his career, and a final in Rome, as well as his best ranking. The 27-year-old Tunisian also presented herself as the player who has won the most clay court wins (17 for 3 losses) this season.
(AFP)
