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Australian Open: The panel on Djokovic and Thiem

The Australian Open will start in Melbourne on Monday. We checked out a group of German-speaking tennis journalists again. In the third part about the chances of Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem.

by tennisnet
last edit: Jan 13, 2019, 07:59 am

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Dominic Thiem opens in Melbourne against Benoit Paire
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Dominic Thiem

Question: Novak Djokovic is a big favorite in the Australian Open. Is there at least one reason why Nole shouldn't take his seventh title in Melbourne?

Marcel Meinert (SKY): As the winner of the last two Grand Slams and number one in the world, Djokovic is “The one to beat”. Like no other, he knows how to be in top shape right at the start of the season. The tournament in Doha showed, however, that Djokovic is still far from his limit. The Serb wasn't really happy with his performance. The draw holds some unpleasant stumbling blocks (eg Shapovalov or Medvedev). For many, a final against Roger Federer would be the absolute dream finale.

Niki Fink (tennisnet.com): There are even two: the Australian heat and Roger Federer.

Gerald Kleffmann (Süddeutsche Zeitung): I see opportunities for others. He is less favorite than Nadal was in Paris. Grand slams are long. Wait.

Oliver Fassnacht (Eurosport / DAZN): No.

Florian Goosmann (tennisnet.com): I am looking forward to Federer and Nadal. At Federer, whether he starts the year as fresh as 2017 and 2018, at Nadal, whether he stays healthy. If so, there's a big tournament!

Florian Heer (Tennis Tour Talk): Even if it may sound boring, for me Nole is and remains the man to beat. He has shown himself in impressive form in his first tournaments. He also looks very relaxed and satisfied without appearing to have completely satisfied the hunger for success. He also looks physically fit. Best-of-five matches will also play into his cards.

Markus Theil (Eurosport): There are even 127 reasons.

Andrej Antic (tennisMAGAZIN): No.

Jürgen Schmieder (Süddeutsche Zeitung): No.

Ulrike Weinrich (tennisnet.com): One reason has twelve letters - allow: Roger Federer.

Lukas Zahrer (tennisnet.com): Since seven matches separate him from the title, there are also seven reasons - with more or less big arguments - that speak against a tournament victory. Daniil Medvedev and Kei Nishikori could be the first touchstones in his neighborhood that he was beatable, Roberto Bautista Agut (although over three movements) showed in Doha.

Paul Häuser (SKY): Roger Federer I trust the hat trick in Melbourne. Novak Djokovic is beatable, Federer was already close in Paris-Bercy last year. The young savages Karen Khachanov, Borna Coric and of course Sascha Zverev can crack the Djoker and play for the title. But in the end I expect the seventh triumph for Djokovic down under.

Jörg Allmeroth (Allmeroth Media): I am not sure whether Djokovic can maintain this dominance. For me, he is not the almost unbeatable dominator. In general, the fight at the top will be a lot tougher this year.

Question: Dominic Thiem comes to Melbourne without winning the match. Will that be a problem for him? How far can Thiem get?

Niki Fink (tennisnet.com): Not won a match this year and played badly at the same time - that will also gnaw at Dominic Thiem. Sure, the same picture already existed before the US Open and then the Lichtenwörther showed two of his best career achievements against Anderson and Nadal. In Australia, however, things will be different - this time there is nothing more than the third round for Thiem.

Paul Häuser (SKY): The draw is not good for Dominic Thiem. After that, Mischa Zverev lurks. I'm unfortunately expecting an early end for Thiem. For this I have Mischa Zverev on the piece of paper as a dark horse.

Jens Huiber (sportradio360): No! The draw is excellent for Dominic. Best-of-five against pair, he has a clear advantage there. Popyrin is not fit enough, Mischa Zverev needs a great day. He struggled against Coric in Paris. And if he is in the quarterfinals, he can win that too.

Oliver Faßnacht (Eurosport): If such losses have already been included in the planning of the season preparation and the following tournaments, he can reach the second week with a clear head. At first, I don't see an opponent who - from the playground - couldn't lie to Thiem. However, if the missing results have caused uncertainty, everything could be too late even against Paire.

Jörg Allmeroth (Allmeroth Media): Not having won anything before the tournament is not a problem per se. But he and others are caught in the tongs from two sides, by the not-too-tired grandmasters around RF. And from the really young and tall people who simply have advantages on the obviously fast courts. But he will arrive in the second week.

Lukas Zahrer (tennisnet.com): Thiem is a player who likes to play many matches. The first round defeat in Doha is therefore unfortunate, but I see its draw as an advantage. With Paire, he doesn't have an uncomfortable serve monster, so he should be able to find his rhythm. A lot will depend on the speed of the courts. I expect him to meet Coric in the round of 16 and be challenged there too long, so Zverev will be out in the quarter-finals.

Gerald Kleffmann (Süddeutsche Zeitung): See a difficult year coming for Thiem.

Marcel Meinert (SKY): The preparation was not ideal, and self-confidence is not at the limit. The start against Benoit Paire is uncomfortable but feasible. Thiem has to find his game quickly, against Coric (round of 16) or Zverev (quarter-final) he would only be an outsider at the moment.

Ulrike Weinrich (tennisnet.com): The first opponent Benoit Paire should not be underestimated. A kind of French surprise bag - not only in terms of hairstyles and their coloring. The defeats at the start of the season did not completely unsettle Thiem. Nevertheless, the self-confidence of the French Open finalist was certainly already greater than these days. Nevertheless: The quarter-finals are of course in there. And Alexander Zverev could wait there again ...

Florian Heer (Tennis Tour Talk): There was still a lot of room for improvement in Dominic's desert appearances in Abu Dhabi and Doha this season. In addition, the draw is anything but easy. The first round against Benoit Paire is tough. It doesn't go any further than Round 3 in Melbourne this year.

Jürgen Schmieder (Süddeutsche Zeitung): Quarter-finals. But: after the match against Nadal at the 2018 US Open, he is my favorite for Paris.

Andrej Antic (tennisMAGAZIN): Everything that happens in front of Melbourne doesn't matter. Thiem is at least in the last 16.

Markus Theil (Eurosport): Arriving without winning the match is not a problem in itself. I see the unpleasant Benoit Paire at the beginning as a difficult test. If he hits that, I think Domi can go into the second. Move in week. The name of the tableau looks more difficult for him than it will be in reality.

Florian Goosmann (tennisnet.com): Yes, unfortunately yes. Thiem has to get into the tournament somehow and get rhythm, but that's exactly what will be against Paire. ;-)

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Sunday
Jan 13, 2019, 08:02 am
last edit: Jan 13, 2019, 07:59 am