Dominic Thiem against Hubert Hurkacz: The next big stress test
Dominic Thiem has been very successful since the US Open - but mostly plays against the second or third guard on the ATP tour. With Hubert Hurkacz , an absolute top man is now waiting.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Sep 22, 2022, 08:36 am
The fact that Richard Gasquet can play great tennis on a hard court at the age of 36 was impressively demonstrated by the Frenchman at the US Open recently: After victories over Taro Daniel and Miomir Kecmanovic, the veteran reached the last Grand Slam tournament of the year third round, but had to admit defeat there to Rafael Nadal. Not a favorite opponent of the French.
Unlike Dominic Thiem, by the way, against whom Gasquet had a positive head-to-head balance in the run-up to the meeting. This is gone, Thiem moved into the second round of Metz's ATP 250 event with a two-set win that was largely safe. A strong performance by the Austrian, but still no proof of the comparability of the 29-year-old with the absolute world elite.
Thiem has to go against Hurkacz
The Lichtenwörther could deliver this himself this Thursday: in round two from Metz, Thiem will face Hubert Hurkacz, number ten in the tennis world. It is Thiem's first meeting with a top ten man since the month-long injury break. And the first really big stress test for the former number three in the tennis world.
Against Hurkacz, Thiem is not only because of the world ranking position - Hurkacz is 172 places ahead of the Lower Austrian - a blatant outsider: the Pole also left the field as the winner in the two previous encounters. What speaks for Thiem, on the other hand: the most recent match experience. Hurkacz has been without a game on the ATP tour since the surprising second round at the US Open, while Thiem has had six matches in France in the last week and a half alone.
Thiem with rising form curve
Thiem is also going uphill in terms of play - with the exception of the clear defeat in the final against Ugo Humbert in Rennes, in which the 29-year-old had apparently also reached his physical limits. The Lichtenwörther already showed impressive performances in the USA, in France - as the previous performances indicate - a new level seems to have been reached.
It remains to be seen whether it will be enough to put a man like Hubert Hurkacz - who feels at home on hardcourt - in serious trouble. One thing is certain: the duel with Hurkacz is a location determination for Dominic Thiem. A location determination of how far the Lower Austrian has already progressed with his comeback efforts. A determination of where you stand, how much might still be missing on the absolute top of the world.