Dominic Thiem: ATP Cincinnati "worth as much as every year"
In the run-up to the Western & Southern Open,Dominic Thiem spoke in a virtual press conference about the experience of playing without spectators and the quality of the starting field.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Aug 23, 2020, 12:09 pm
A good one and a half years ago, Dominic Thiem would have been one of the extended favorites of an ATP Masters 1000 event on hard courts, such as the Western & Southern Open. The Austrian could not be counted as one of the absolute contenders for the title, however, the 26-year-old was still too fragile on hard court at the time, and the Lichtenwörther was always good for a slip, especially against strong opponents.
Not only has a lot of time passed since then, Thiem has also developed into one of the world's best hard court players in the last few months, since the quite surprising success at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells, a hitherto unknown sovereignty on the so long unpleasant hard court brought to light. And since moving into the final of the Australian Open, the last skeptic has also been convinced: Dominic Thiem is always to be expected on hard court.
Thiem before the trip: "Zero percent nervous"
This puts the Austrian in a position to be the absolute top favorite for the two events in Flushing Meadows, the Western & Southern Open and the US Open. A trip that many a star - such as the defending champion, Rafael Nadal - was unwilling to take, too great concerns about the COVID-19 situation in the United States. Concerns that are not particularly pronounced with the Lichtenwörther: "To be honest, I am zero percent nervous or afraid of traveling here," said Thiem in a virtual press conference.
Due to the organizers' rigorous safety regulations, Thiem even feels "safer in New York than anywhere else on the planet," as the Austrian emphasizes. And the field of participants would have lost only marginally in quality this year: "Those who win the title here definitely deserve it, and the players and the draw are worth the same as every year. The field is still there super, super strong, " the ATP quoted the third in the world rankings.
"Much more difficult without fans"
In any case, the experience in Flushing Meadows will not be the same as it is every year, as the players have to get used to playing without fans: "Tennis is such a mental sport, and I think that makes it a lot more difficult without fans, because I ask I envision playing Arthur Ashe in the fifth movement, Nightsession, well after midnight, and in a normal year you get so much energy from the fans, "says Thiem, preparing for a very difficult experience.
Nevertheless, it is the same situation for everyone involved, Thiem is convinced that the one who can best adapt to these circumstances in the end will also be the one who will be allowed to raise the trophy in the end. And that the Austrian knows how to deal with these circumstances well , Thiem has impressively demonstrated at the numerous exhibition events in the COVID-19-related interruption of the tour. Another factor that makes Thiem one of the big favorites at these two tournaments.