Alex Corretja: "Thiem has to realize that this year is a transitional year"
Alex Corretja spoke to Eurosport aboutDominic Thiem 's current path back. The Spaniard has no doubts that the Austrian can make it back to the top of the world.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Apr 23, 2022, 08:30 pm
There are completely different standards by which Dominic Thiem's matches are currently (must) be judged. Just a few days ago, the Austrian had an injury break of more than nine months at the ATP Challenger event in Marbella, and last Tuesday he played his first match on the ATP tour as a returnee. Both with a fairly manageable outcome.
Thiem lost both against Pedro Cachin and John Millman right at the start. While the Austrian in the duel with the former was primarily doing a first touch for body and game, things were already going a little smoother again against the Australian Millman. Although the former world number three was missing a lot in all areas on personal top form. Especially on the forehand side.
Thiem in Estoril against Bonzi
Accordingly, Thiem is currently making no secret of traveling to the tournaments of this world with extremely subdued expectations. So also to Estoril, where next week there will be a start against Benjamin Bonzi. Another quite feasible test for the US Open winner from 2020. Especially since the training performance of the Austrian - according to the assessments of critical observers on site - should be reasonably promising.
The need of the hour is and remains patience. For Dominic Thiem and his fans. Eurosport expert Alex Correjta knows that too: "I think Thiem has to be patient now and realize that this year is a transitional year in which it can only be about playing as many matches as possible, maybe 30 or 40. to be really ready for the coming year," said the Spaniard.
Correjta trusts Thiem to return to the top ten
The Spaniard is convinced that the Austrian's declared goal - namely to be able to attack the biggest titles of the tour again next year at the latest - should be quite realistic: "He's still relatively young, he can still play in the big tournaments go far," said Correjta. If the Lower Austrian shows enough patience.
"If he remains patient, he will understand the process he is in right now," Corretja is quoted as saying on Eurosport. "It will probably take him four, five months to get back to his old level, but I think he will make it back into the top ten. Maybe in a year. That's a realistic goal for him, I think ." A goal that Thiem wants to get one step closer to in Portugal next week.