Australian Open: A morning with Dominic Thiem
Dominic Thiem started the Australian Open 2021 with a three-set win against Mikhail Kukushkin. ( Here you can read the game in our live ticker ). This victory was never in question. Tennis insider Marco Kühn took a closer look at the game.
by Marco Kühn
last edit: Feb 08, 2021, 01:44 pm
Dominic Thiem clung to this important first sentence. Who wants to lose the first set in the first round of the first Grand Slam of the season? And then against Mikhail Kukushkin. For his part, known for having fun with big favorites in big squares.
Thiem got to feel this fun. At the beginning of the first movement, Thiem was present, positioned noticeably close to the baseline. It seemed as if Thiem had moved his comfort zone two steps forward, almost in the Agassi style, he took the balls early, even followed a forehand placed in the backhand corner to the net to complete it with a shy forehand full stop towards the T-line .
Kukushkin solid as a rock
The spoiler Kukushkin quickly took this fun from Thiem's cover. Which led to Thiem forgetting his offensive direction, close to the baseline.
Solid as a rock, he kept giving Thiem tasks. Few unforced mistakes, nimble feet and the forehand reminiscent of Daniil Medvedev dug into the Austrian's head. He was only impressed at certain points by turning his back to the opponent and scratching his face with the bat. Did Kukushkin see this? And did this observation give him confidence?
Thiem stayed cool and self-determined in the rallies. He performed the dance of rallies. He set the pace. The more Kukushkin sniffed the success of the set, the more solid Thiem became. Does this skill differentiate a very good player from a good player? Probably already.
#VIDEO#
The bomb bursts
One set ball later, the bomb exploded in the fight for a tie-break. A backhand longline brought the reassuring 4: 2. It was one of the back hands that Thiem heard from the sound of the covering that she was a winner. That gave confidence and security. The end of the first set was a relaxed gallop towards round two after this break.
The spoilsport does not give up
"Right now the break!" I spoke softly into the dark living room. But Kukushkin defended himself with his Medvedev forehand, with which he chased Thiem right-left. He took the lead 1-0 in the second set and subsequently forced Thiem to do a forehand longline that every amateur player wants to meet once in a lifetime. It didn't work. The spoiler Kukushkin clung to the second set like Thiem to the first. Break in front of Kukushkin. 2-0. The question arose: is Medvedev the more developed version of Kukushkin?
Three years ago Thiem would probably have racked his brain and showed the opponent through emotions that his head was breaking. Those times are history. Thiem remained controlled and calm after the opponent's early break. He got the break back and hit the 2: 2 with ease.
aothiem1
After the bomb had to burst, the knot burst. Anyone who plays tennis is familiar with this discomfort when striking, right after hitting the felt ball, when swinging. This is the moment when you no longer have any control over the stroke. From this moment on you give up your control. Anyone who is insecure is a control freak. This doesn't just apply to the tennis court. Under pressure, in a tournament, there is an invisible blockage right from the point where the ball hits. This is released as soon as you have played the tension out of the hitting arm. Then the racket head flies through the ball almost free of thoughts. If you think less during the rally, you play tennis better.
At the same time, just a few meters further on, on the other side of the net, exactly this blockage builds up on the opponent.
This phenomenon happened from the 3-2 in the second set.
The search for the groove
At the beginning of the third movement the engine still stuttered a little. Tennis has a lot to do with feeling, and not just with stopball. The more comfortable player approaches the balls more aggressively and hits the ball cleaner. This good feeling comes with work in every match.
Dominic Thiem is a hard worker. This is not just related to physical training. The constant ups and downs of a match challenge a player's emotions to a fight with themselves. There is no forehand for five minutes. During these five minutes, the opponent hits the outer edge of the line four times. Do you stay calm or do you get carried away emotionally by this back and forth?
Thiem couldn't quite find his final groove for the tournament in the third set. Every now and then he was too close to the ball. Some mistakes were too many. Nothing that couldn't be improved in the second round to finally find the groove.
A few questions remain open. Is Daniil Medvedev a big fan of Mikhail Kukushkin? Did the two learn the forehand with the same trainer? Maybe Kukushkin is Medvedev's coach?
One thing, however, is clear: Dominic Thiem solved this complicated match like a champion.
Here you can read the game between Thiem and Kukushkin in our live ticker
Here is the men's single tableau
laver arena