Dominic Thiem in the Eurosport podcast - "Cancellation would be unfair"
Dominic Thiem commented on the current situation in Australia in the Eurosport podcast "Das Yellow vom Ball". He considers hosting the first major of the year to be reasonable.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Jan 22, 2021, 07:58 am
Dominic Thiem has already had a week of quarantine, and next Friday and Saturday the Austrian will take part in an exhibition match with Novak Djokovic , Rafael Nadal and Jannik Sinner . Thiem is allowed to leave the hotel for five hours a day, like the majority of participants in the Australian Open. However, more than 70 professionals only have to stay in the room for 14 days because one person tested positive on their flight. In the Eurosport podcast "The Yellow from the Egg", Thiem commented on the current situation.
When asked whether the Australian Open should still be canceled, the previous year's finalist said. "For me it is still reasonable. It sounds tough now, but there are only 70 players in quarantine, everyone else in Melbourne can train normally. It would be unfair to everyone else who has made the long journey if the tournament is now It was everyone's own decision to travel here. Nobody had to do it. So I think the tournament will take place. "
Thiem - "Sensational performance by Tennis Australia"
Regarding the situation for those colleagues who are under strict quarantine, Thiem said: "To be honest, for the 70 players who were on the planes it is of course very bitter. They will certainly have a severe competitive disadvantage, that is clear . There are still nine days until the start of the Australian Open, but in contrast to the others who can train normally, this is a huge disadvantage. There is no need to discuss it. It was incredibly unfortunate for them, I do also very sorry for them. But of course everyone knew what they were getting into. Tennis Australia and the whole country tried everything to allow the tournament to take place and that is also a sensational performance. "
Thiem traveled to Adelaide with his father Wolfgang, who also looks after Dennis Novak, physiotherapist Alex Stober and brother Moritz. Although Nadal and Djokovic live in the same hotel as the Austrian number one, the Thiem team did not see the Serbian number one in the world or Nadal after arriving at the airport together, as Wolfgang Thiem explained to tennisnet.
Roland Garros as a big goal
In another interview with sportschau.de Dominic Thiem outlined his sporting goals for the Australian Open. "I definitely want to win the tournament. I go to every tournament and want to win it. Perhaps with the exception of Wimbledon. In a match I haven't loosened up myself now because I've won a Grand Slam. I'm just as nervous as before. That won't change until the end of my career. But I also know that when I play well and well I am prepared, my chances are good to get far. "
His biggest goal is still a triumph in Roland Garros, where the current number three in the world failed in 2018 and 2019 in the final to Rafael Nadal. "Beating him on this center court is probably one of the hardest things there has ever been in sport. But still: It's my big goal and I'll try again in 2021."