Australian Open: Dominic Thiem's hard court strength? "It's confidence," says Coach Massu
The coaching team around Dominic Thiem , father Wolfgang and Nicolas Massu, answered questions before the final of the Australian Open in Melbourne.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Feb 02, 2020, 08:59 am
"Dominic is in the final because he deserves it," said Massu in Melbourne on Saturday. "I think he increased from match to match," said father Wolfgang Thiem. Both also emphasized the good preparation. "We arrived in Australia on December 20th. Then he played the ATP Cup. In December we worked a lot on fitness in Miami. And played a lot of tennis in Brisbane."
The fact that Thiem won three tight matches last year against his current opponent Novak Djokovic made Massu small. "In the end, two or three balls go in this or the other side." Massu also said that he was a big fan of his game even before working with Thiem. "It's the tennis that I like. He is an unbelievable complete player." Massu also believed that Thiem could bring the results. "The speed on the ball is amazing."
The fact that Thiem has had strong results on hard courts since last year is a mental matter for the Chilean. "If you win one tournament or you play one unbelievable tournament like Indian Wells, for example, then youbelieve that you can make big things. Indian Wells was like a slow hard court. The bouncewas really high. Is perfect for him. But then he start toplay very, very solid on that surface. But then he won Vienna, finals in Masters in London, also Beijing. He was playing really, really well. Sometimes small details make big difference. But Ithink it's confidence, that you believe you can playthe same tennis in both surfaces. Why not?"
Wolfgang Thiem on the pattern separation : "The coach must understand what the player needs"
Wolfgang Thiem also commented again on the separation from Thomas Muster . They had several meetings in Vienna last year and wanted to try it out. "But after two weeks, Dominic said it didn't fit." Muster had a lot of experience and was a very good player. "But for me the most important thing is that the coach understands what the player needs and not that thecoach wants to make a copy of himself."
"Dominic is already 26 years, so he has his personality. This was for me the main point, that Dominic needs someone who gives him the space,who gives him the free space to develop, to play hisgame. He needed advices, "but short advices". If you have someone who says too much, who is too involved, it doesn't work. It was unfortunate that it came to a separation at a Grand Slam tournament. "On the other side, you have to try it out in such an important tournament A bad word was not said. "It didn't work, and that's it."
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