ATP Bastad: Dominic Thiem - "Feels like another world"
Dominic Thiem celebrated his first victory on the ATP tour in 14 months at Bastad's ATP 250 event. Nevertheless, the Austrian still sees a lot of room for improvement.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jul 12, 2022, 07:13 pm
Hardly any question irritates the inclined fan of the sport, in this case tennis, as much as asking what would actually have happened if. Yes, for example if Daniil Medvedev had used a breakball in the third set in the final of the Australian Open and had secured the lead in the third section as well. Or, a more recent example, if Emil Ruusuvuori hadn't made a double mistake in match ball Dominic Thiem.
Because: Especially in the decisive moments, the Austrian can still often be noticed that it was pretty much exactly 14 months in which the US Open winner from 2020 had to endure without a win on the ATP tour. 14 months, most of which Thiem spent injured - and in early summer 2022 finally slowly but surely finding his way back to his old strength.
Thiem must "control nerves better"
An important step there: the opening win in Bastad against Emil Ruusuvuori. In which Thiem now showed nerves at times. Not a broken leg, because this is part of the process, as Thiem explained afterwards: "I had a tough phase with many defeats, few wins. It was difficult to decide the match in the end. I have to control my nerves a little better. "
In general, the duel with the Finn was difficult, especially since Thiem should get anything but a tailor-made start: "It was a very difficult game. I didn't have a good start," said the Austrian, who was in the duel with Ruusuvuori in the first section quickly trailed 1:5. "It's been a long time. My last win was in Rome 2021, it feels like a different world. Many things happened afterwards. It was a difficult time for me and my tennis," said the Lichtenwörther.
Thiem against feared opponents
For whom it is in the round of 16 against an old friend, the Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut. The next big test for the 28-year-old was the world number 20. in the past it was mostly a red rag for Thiem. Four of the previous five duels went to Bautista Agut, who last had to pull out at Wimbledon due to a COVID-19 infection.
Dominic Thiem, on the other hand, deliberately avoided the classic lawn in order to insert a longer training block. The Lower Austrian was already able to write at the home challenger event in Salzburg, and the first match success at the ATP tour level has now been achieved in Bastad - after 426 days without this feeling. Which you can definitely see in some situations.