ATP Finals 2020: Dominic Thiem - Much the same and yet everything is different
As in the previous year,Dominic Thiem lost his third group match after two victories at the beginning of the ATP Finals. Nevertheless, the signs this year are somewhat different than twelve months ago.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Nov 19, 2020, 07:03 pm
Two wins, one defeat, a set ratio of 4: 3 - there is no big difference in Dominic Thiem's group results compared to the previous year. The Austrian also won his first two matches in 2019, only to then lose against the supposedly weakest group opponent.
As in the previous year, the straight two-set defeat against Andrey Rublev remains without any major consequences for the Lichtenwörther. The first place in the table could not be taken from Thiem before the last match day, and the 27-year-old will also get over the 200 missed points.
Thiem in top shape in the semifinals
"In the back of my head I always had that I was already qualified. The defeat is therefore not very painful," said Thiem. Of course he would have wanted the win "100 percent", but at the same time it was difficult for him to maintain the intensity after the exhausting matches against Tsitsipas and Nadal.
And so the US Open winner quickly looked ahead again. The next challenge for third in the world rankings is already waiting in the semifinals on Saturday - this could lead to a new edition of the previous year's semi-final against Alexander Zverev. The prerequisite for this is a victory by the German against Novak Djokovic.
So almost everything seems to be the same as last year. But Thiem himself identified a few differences: "The results are similar. But last year I was sick and had the same problems with my foot as in Vienna. I was really happy to get through the third group match. I have that Day break urgently needed. This year it's a little different because I'm physically really fit and no big things hurt. "
He has no preference in terms of semi-final opponents, explained Thiem, who even easily sees Zverev as the favorite against Djokovic: "If he (Djokovic, note) plays like yesterday, Sascha is probably even to be favored." But this could always change - if in shape, Djokovic is probably the strongest player in the field on indoor hard courts.
Thiem does not see a tournament favorite
This year, however, it was very evenly balanced, according to Thiem, no favorite has yet emerged. It is clear that the Austrian himself is definitely one of the hottest candidates for the tournament win - at least if he can bring a similar performance to the field as against Tsitsipas and Nadal.
"I have to find the performance again that I called on Sunday and Tuesday," the 27-year-old knows. "If I can do that, I'll have my chance against both of them." And also the possibility of organizing the end of the tournament differently than twelve months ago.
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