Dominic Thiem 2019: more successful than ever
Before the new season starts on January 3rd with the ATP Cup, let's take a look back at Dominic Thiem's 2019 tennis year.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 01, 2020, 07:44 pm
Dominic Thiem and Roger Federer battled over two hours in early March in the final of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells. With 3: 6 6: 3 7: 5 the Lichtenwörther was able to beat the maestro and secured his first title in this category. It was the start of a sensational success run for the 26-year-old.
The start of the season was anything but as planned for the Austrian: a first-round defeat at the Qatar Open was followed by a disappointing performance at the first Grand Slam of the year. Thiem Benoit Paire was able to defeat the Australian Open in round one, but in round two the Lichtenwörther had to give up against local hero Alexei Popyrin .
The South America tour was also unsuccessful. Thiem had triumphed twice in Buenos Aires, but in February 2019 it suffered a bitter semi-final loss to Diego Schwartzman. At the following tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Thiem had to surrender to the Serb Laslo Djere in round one.
Separation from trainer Günter Bresnik
Something had to change: Due to the weak start to the season, it was time for the Austrian to go their separate ways with coach Günter Bresnik. A decision that led to success early on, because in Indian Wells Nicholas Massu was already a new coach in Dominic Thiem's box. Immediately after his victory in Indian Wells, he went to the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Miami, where Thiem was unable to match the strong performances and lost to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in round two.
The first Masters on clay of the 2019 season took place in Monte Carlo. Last year Dominic Thiem had failed in the quarterfinals against Rafael Nadal, in 2019 Thiem had to surrender Dusan Lajovic one round earlier in the round of 16. This was followed by the tournament in Barcelona, where Thiem won for the first time when he defeated Daniil Medvedev 6: 4 6: 0. On the way to the final, Thiem once again managed to defeat Rafael Nadal on sand.
A conceivably close semi-final loss to Novak Djokovic in Madrid and a second round end in Rome against fear opponent Fernando Verdasco made Thiem arrive at the Grand Slam tournament in Roland Garros with mixed feelings.
As in the previous year, Thiem was in top form in Paris and was able to retaliate for the defeat in Madrid in an epic fight in the semifinals with Novak Djokovic. In the final, as in the previous year, Rafael Nadal was waiting, who could not be beaten that day and thiem put 6: 3 5: 7 6: 1 6: 1 in the place.
Short lawn season
While many high-impact players are looking forward to the start of the lawn season, it is anything but Dominic Thiem's favorite surface. The Austrian lawn season was accordingly short. Thiem had regretted the start in Halle last year, he learned the lessons in 2019 and canceled for the tournament in Germany. But it was of little use, because in Wimbledon Thiem lost to the American Sam Querrey in the first round.
For Thiem it went straight back to his favorite surface sand and to the ATP 500 tournament in Hamburg. There it was in the quarterfinals for the 26-year-old a bitter 6: 7 (3), 6: 7 (5) loss to Andrey Rublev. Things went better for Thiem at the home tournament in Kitzbühel. After the disappointing first round from 2018, the time had finally come for Thiem to win an ATP title on home soil too. Without losing a set, Thiem stormed into the final, where he defeated Ramos-Vinolas 7: 6 (0) and 6: 1.
Weakened Thiem disappointed at US Open
After Thiem had reached the quarter-finals of the Coupe Rogers, the Lichtenwörther had to cancel the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati due to a viral infection. Weakened by the illness, the Lichtenwörther disappointed across the board at the fourth Grand Slam tournament of the year. Already in the first round of the US Open he had to surrender to number 87 in the world rankings, Thomas Fabbiano from Italy, in four sets.
Immediately after the US Open, the ATP tour was interrupted for a round of the Davis Cup and the Laver Cup. Thiem started for the Austrian team against Finland and had to suffer in his second individual a disgraceful 3-6 and 2-6 defeat against the number 163 in the world at the time, Emil Ruusuvuori. Overall, however, the Austrian team was able to prevail with a 3: 2 win.
Things went better for Thiem at the Laver Cup: In his first match, he defeated Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6: 4, 5: 7 and 13:11 in the champions tie-break, while Taylor Fritz also had a decisive champions tie-break , Here the Austrian had to give up 5: 7 7: 6 (3) and 5:10.
Shanghai and Beijing give confidence
The expectations at the two tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai could not have been lower. While Thiem in Shanghai has managed to reach the second round twice in his previous appearances, the Austrian was still waiting for his first victory in Beijing.
Hardly anyone has seen that his first victory at the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing should be followed by the final victory against Stefanos Tsitsipas . And also in Shanghai, Thiem presented himself in top form and was able to advance to the quarter-finals, in which he was also easily fatigued by Matteo Berrettini with 6: 7 (8) and 4: 6.
Thiem replaces the Erste Bank Open in Vienna
Dominic Thiem was able to travel to Vienna for the second home tournament of the year with a broad chest. At number one, Thiem played two sets of three against Verdasco and Berrettini in the final, in which he beat his good friend Diego Schwartzman 3: 6 6: 4 and 6: 3.
After the exhausting tournament in Vienna, Thiem was ready three days later at the Rolex Masters in Paris against the service giant Milos Raonic. Thiem was able to prevail in a marathon match, in the round of 16 duel with Grigor Dimitrov the strength was apparently missing and Thiem was clearly defeated in two sets.
ATP finals for Thiem a highlight
Thiem had a good week of regeneration before the ATP Finals in London were about the last big title of the year. In the first game, the 26-year-old was able to show his best tennis and defeat Roger Federer in two sets. The preliminary decision in group "Björn Borg" was then made in the second group game, in which Thiem met number two in the world, Novak Djokovic. In probably the best match of the past season, Thiem beat the Serb in three sets and was surprisingly determined as the group winner.
In the semifinals, Alexander Zverev, the runner-up from the group "Andre Agassi" led by Rafael Nadal, was waiting. With 7: 5 and 6: 3 the Lichtenwörther gave his opponent four years younger no chance and was the first Austrian ever to move into a single final at the ATP Finals. As in the Beijing final, Thiem got to do with 21-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas. The bitter end from an Austrian perspective: 7: 6 (6) 2: 6 and 6: 7 (4).
Career high again in the world rankings
Although the Austrian was unable to end the season with a very big title, Thiem can still be satisfied with his tennis year 2019. Five titles, including the first at Masters 1000 level, and another entry into the Roland Garros final mean fourth place in the world rankings. A strong 49 wins versus 19 losses.
Dominic Thiem and the Austrian team will continue with the ATP Cup in Australia from January 3 to 12. For the Austrian tennis fans, we can only hope that Thiem can continue the strong 2019 season.