Dominic Thiem before hard court season: "I'm glad that clay court season is over"
The match is still in the bones, the La Ola wave of the audience in memory and the national anthem still in the ears. Dominic Thiem has rarely been so happy about a title as on Saturday in Kitzbühel. He may have won a smaller tournament, but the importance for an athlete to triumph in his own country became clear to everyone. There is no such thing as a matter of course in victory.
by APA
last edit: Aug 05, 2019, 08:30 am
As number 4 in the world with the home advantage behind you, you are doomed to victory, so to speak. And yet it is so difficult to put this heart's wish into practice. Dominic Thiem succeeded in his second final at the Generali Open, which his coach Nicolas Massu in his hometown Vina del Mar, for example, failed in two finals. Maybe that's why, but also because he won the "Goldene Gams" as a player 15 years ago, the Chilean was so emotional for his protégé. Thiem can tick the box "Home win".
"Tears of joy are always beautiful, of course. The Nico himself is on top of the chamois, which is of course very special to stand on a trophy with the coach," Thiem was also happy for the South American. The Lower Austrian thanked his fans with the triumph for the outstanding atmosphere in the stadium. "It is absolutely unique for such a tournament on the whole tour that from Wednesday all center court games are sold out." This is also sensational for the players. "The tournament has a unique status on the tour and we will do everything we can to keep it that way for a long time," Thiem promised.
Dominic Thiem in Canada still without a win
When the adrenaline level at Austria's tennis star slowly decreased, he was already thinking of the immediate and distant future. "The bad thing and also interesting about tennis is that you are never satisfied with anything. Next year, when I come here, I want to defend the title. And the tension will be no less."
In the almost merciless chase between different continents, time zones and rubbers, especially in tennis, Thiem already went to Canada on Sunday to the Hard Court Masters 1000 in Montreal.
He considers his form before the start of the next season to be good. "I haven't played my absolute best tennis a week now, but I've been fully focused all the time. It's a very important part." The game on hard court is now different. "Now it's over with the return so far from behind. Of course I have to hike closer to the line again, do more. But it was a long time on sand and I'm also glad that it's over now."
And he already has new goals. The Wednesday start in Canada against the winner from local hero Denis Shapovalov or the Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert is certain for him. "I've never won a game in Canada, I want to change that." His points now earned in Kitzbühel are also good for the Masters and he hopes that he can get closer to the fourth Masters qualification en suite at the two upcoming Masters 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati. Then comes the fourth major tournament.
"I always felt very comfortable at the US Open and certainly played one of my best matches of my career there last year," he recalled the five-set classic against Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals. Maybe Thiem will make his first Grand Slam title in Flushing Meadows. "I'm sure I'm flirting with it, but I've played the final in Paris twice and seen twice how far the way is," Thiem knows. He also had to measure himself against one or two of the "big three" again. "So nothing is easier in New York than in Paris."
The tournament director Alexander Antonitsch was of course extremely happy with the outcome in Kitzbühel. "It is just good for me, also for the whole sport. For him it is emotionally very important and I believe that it is also good for the Vienna tournament once he has done it."
Nicolas Massu: "We have to stay focused"
Thiem coach Nicolas Massu saw it that way in conversation with APA . "There are two tournaments in Austria, and each time you see the opportunity to win it. Now it's done for the first time, Dominic will be more relaxed in the future," said the 39-year-old Chilean.
Massu had followed Thiem's thanks to him with tears in his eyes. "He's a great guy. I'm happy when he's happy on the pitch. And it's also for his family who opened the doors for me to work with him." Massu was also touched by the fact that, 15 years after his Kitz victory, he was also jointly responsible for a title. "Yes, it is also incredible for me because I now know the feelings of a tennis player and a coach."
Massu confirmed how difficult it is to be at the top at home. "I played two finals in my hometown in Vina del Mar and lost both. I was also the favorite. You want to win it so much and then it's not that easy."
Massu, who once had Thomas Muster as one of his idols when he was 14, 15, was enthusiastic about the atmosphere in Kitzbühel. "It's good for sport in Austria. I know that skiing is your most popular sport, but it's great that you have so many good players here. You had Thomas Muster, then also good players like Melzer, Koubek and now Dominic. "
And of course the season is not over for his Dominic. "He has had a great year, but we have to stay focused. Now there are two Masters 1000s, then the slam, of course it is a goal that he will qualify for the Masters for the fourth time in a row. I hope that he will reach his level keep playing like that. "