Dominic Thiem before the clay court season: "That would be the next step"
Dominic Thiem already canceled the start of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo on Monday afternoon. Instead, Austria's number one prefers to compete at the Generali Open in Kitzbühel.
by Lukas Zahrer
last edit: Apr 02, 2019, 11:49 am
“Tokyo is a beautiful city. I still prefer to spend a week more in Kitzbühel. The decision was not particularly difficult, ”said Thiem.
Thiem was not at the start in Rio de Janeiro 2016, although he would have been eligible to play in the tournament with his placement in the world rankings. But Olympia is not entirely deleted from Thiem's career planning. He is already planning to compete in the subsequent games in Paris in 2024 - on sand, mind you. "I will definitely play it. Once in my career, I want to do that. Then I would be 31, that might be my last games, ”said Thiem.
For the first time this year in Kitzbühel it will be played in the dark . In night sessions, fans can look forward to world-class tennis in more pleasant conditions. Thiem will intervene for the first time on Wednesday.
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Dominic Thiem extends with Nicolas Massu
In addition, Thiem confirmed that he wanted to continue working with his touring coach Nicolas Massu at least until the end of 2019. "The overall package fits. He is a nice guy, has an extremely positive charisma like many South Americans. What distinguishes him the most is how he goes in the matches, ”enthused Thiem about the Chileans.
With Massu at his side, Thiem ensured his greatest career success so far at the Masters in Indian Wells a few weeks ago. “It was a huge week. From the very bottom in Rio to the very top - I'm really happy to have this first major title, ”said the current number five in the world. "I rank it higher than the Paris final, especially when you see how Federer continued in Miami."
The Swiss was still inferior in the final Thiem in Indian Wells, but won the 101st title of his career in Miami just two weeks later. For Thiem, however, there was a second-round loss to Hubert Hurkacz.
“The next step would be to continue playing as well after a tournament like Federer did in Miami. It all comes with experience, ”Thiem specified the route. But he also said that his performance in Miami was by no means a bad one.
“The density of men's tennis is higher than ever in my active time. But I have to be fully there at every tournament. At the upcoming Masters there will be some cracks again - from the first round, ”warned Thiem.
Dominic Thiem: Mistake in the season preparation
Since returning from the United States, Thiem has taken a one and a half day break before starting training on sand. The 25-year-old has been doing this outdoors in the southern part of town since last weekend. Next Monday we will go to Monte Carlo, where the first Masters tournament of the year takes place on clay.
“Most players are there early. I can train well with them. Winning Madrid or Rome is my big goal. Maybe I can already lay a good foundation in Monte Carlo, ”said Thiem.
The Lichtenwörther missed this especially at the beginning of the season when he was stopped by an infection at the Australian Open. In retrospect, the twelve-time ATP tournament winner admitted mistakes in the season preparation. He would have resumed training too early after the end of the 2018 season.
“I ended the season really bad two or three years ago. That was not the case in 2018, ”said Thiem. He would have played "exhausting matches" in Paris-Bercy and at the season finale in London. "That makes the difference. Next time I will take another half a week off before going into preparation. It all comes with experience. "
Thiem on working with Bresnik: "There are ups and downs"
Somewhat surprisingly, Thiem's longtime coach Günter Bresnik was missed at the press appointment on Monday. Thiem also completed the training session a few hours earlier with his father Wolfgang, while Bresnik trained a few meters away in the hall with Ernests Gulbis.
“In 15, 16 years we spent more time together than with our respective families, there are ups and downs. So it was clear to us that it is not a good thing if he goes to all tournaments. It's good that Massu is expanding Team Thiem, we'll see everything else, "said the 2018 French Open finalist." Everything is unchanged. "
Who will accompany him to Monte Carlo has not yet been determined. Only the next few days should bring a decision, said Thiem.