Australian Open main draw in danger? Challenger flood puts Dominic Thiem in trouble
A chaotic final at the home tournament in Vienna gave Dominic Thiem the supposedly decisive points for a fixed starting place in the main draw of the Australian Open. But it could wobble now.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Nov 06, 2022, 11:32 am
From Dominic Thiem's point of view, the entire scenery is of course extremely annoying. Just at his last tournament of the 2022 season, after losing against Daniil Medvedev, it became clear: the Austrian could have played another tournament with a protected ranking. And in general, the man from Lichtenwörth must have far more points on his account. At least the latter could be corrected.
Now Thiem is currently there with a small increase in points and a place in the top 100 of the ATP world rankings. But: the starting place in the main field of the Australian Open, it could still shake. Because from November 7th to the end of the month there are still a whopping 17 ATP Challenger events on the program. Opportunities enough for the first pursuers of the Lower Austrian to leave him behind on the home stretch of the game year.
Thiem with little distance
Thiem can already be found outside the top 100 in the live ranking, and the former third in the world rankings is currently ranked 102nd, with little cushion on the competition just behind. Only 63 points separate Thiem from 110th in the ranking, Tim van Rijthoven. Number 122 in the ATP charts, Camilo Ugo Carabelli, is less than 100 points behind the Austrian. And so within striking distance. Incidentally, Austria's number one position could still shake for the US Open winner from 2020, Jurij Rodionov is currently in good form and has now come up to 93 points on his compatriot.
It is probably realistic that Thiem needs a place in the top 110th in the world (plus or minus five ranks) to secure a place in the main draw of the Australian Open. The 29-year-old will probably have to hope for help at the Challenger events in the coming days. Thiem may even have to tremble into December, the last two events of the year will end on December 4th.
Thiem has to tremble
The piquancy of the matter: It really shouldn't have gotten that far. Of course, Thiem - with a protected ranking of course unset - could have caught an absolute top player in the first round of the ATP Masters 1000 event. In view of the form curve of the Lower Austrian, which is pointing steeply upwards, he would undoubtedly have been able to at least win a match in Paris-Bercy. Even if the tanks at Thiem recently seemed increasingly empty.
Accordingly, it is more than understandable that the 29-year-old has refrained from stepping back on the ATP Challenger Tour to Vienna. And prefers to take on an intensive pre-season after a short break. From which Thiem would like to emerge as a "machine". Of course, the focus is on the Australian Open, where the former world number three wants to attack again. Whether he will be able to do this from the peloton is questionable for a few more weeks.