Dominic Thiem before the French Open: Rafael Nadal "the top favorite, then nothing for a long time"
Before the French Open, Dominic Thiem took part in a media appointment at the ATP 500 event in Vienna in October - and talked about the upcoming Grand Slam and its favorites.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Sep 25, 2020, 06:51 pm
Dominic Thiem was granted less than a week's breather after his historic triumph at the US Open. On the following weekend, the man from Lichtenwörth began preparing - and at the same time switching - to sand, as the next season highlight is already around the corner. Constellations that can only exist in one tennis year at the time of COVID-19.
"For me, it's like coming home, I love sliding on the sand, that's how I grew up," the 27-year-old gives the all-clear that this short period of time could not be a stumbling block for a successful performance in the French capital. In addition, there is a new "inner looseness" due to the finally fulfilled dream of a Grand Slam victory. "Nobody takes that away from me," explains Thiem at a media meeting in preparation for the ATP 500 event in Vienna that is scheduled for October.
The draw for the Austrian could very well become a problem this year, after the hammer lot at the beginning named Marin Cilic, two more touchstones could wait with Reilly Opelka and Casper Ruud. "The (note: draw) is of course really tough. I'm only concentrating on the first round anyway: Marin Cilic. The last match in New York was really close, although it was in four sets, we were just under the fifth." , so the Lichtenwörther.
Thiem: "Way to the semifinals a really further"
Overall, "the draw could hardly have been worse," as Thiem emphasizes. The world number three does not want to hear much about the possible semi-final duel with the twelve-time Paris champion Rafael Nadal. "It was clear from the start: if I really want to reach the final, I have to beat Djokovic or Nadal in the semi. Now it's Nadal on my half or I'm in his, or better said, but the way to get there is the right one further."
It is also Nadal who Dominic Thiem sees as the absolute top favorite for the title at the Bois de Boulogne. Although the changed conditions due to the later event in the year would probably benefit a world number one, Novak Djokovic, "but apart from all that, a Nadal is always the top favorite in Paris, then nothing comes for a long time."
Dominic Thiem's draw was also the subject of the last edition of the tennisnet podcast. Just click on "Play" to listen!
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