Dominic Thiem: Marrakech, Monte Carlo, Munich?
Dominic Thiem 's long-awaited comeback is therefore further delayed. There are several options for getting back on the ash.
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
Mar 08, 2022, 11:08 am
A picture is said to say more than a thousand words, so what about moving pictures like those that Dominic Thiem has posted on social networks over the past few days? So there was the Austrian number one doing batting practice, it looked like a full swing. The remote legwork diagnosis was even better. What you didn't see: training partners from the ATP area. Maybe because they were a bit photo shy. But rather because Dominic Thiem does not feel quite ready for sentences at the highest level. And if only in practice.
From this point of view, the cancellation of the performances in Indian Wells and Miami was perhaps not that surprising after all, Thiem had already cited the lack of training sets as one of the main reasons when he withdrew from the South American clay court tour. The good news: The injured wrist is holding up, yes, it's even said to be stronger than ever.
Nadal in Monte Carlo twice too strong for Thiem
And so the return to the ATP tour will take place on sand, not in Cordoba, but maybe in Marrakech? There will be a proper 250 event in the calendar from April 4th, Dominic Thiem would not expect too much competition from the top areas of the ATP charts. But if the 28-year-old from Lower Austria actually plans to start in Monte Carlo, then one or two matches under competitive conditions would certainly not go amiss.
Because in the principality, a full band can be expected, including a very well-rested Novak Djokovic (if an appearance can be reconciled with the vaccination regulations in his adopted country). Rafael Nadal is said to have found his way around the sophisticated country club very well in the past, he narrowly won against Thiem there in 2016 and less narrowly two years later.
To Djokovic in Belgrade?
And then? From April 18th, Barcelona and Belgrade will be served in parallel. Thiem won in Barcelona in 2019, on the other hand the Austrian has a good living with Novak Djokovic, so maybe he'll stop by the Serbian capital for the Adria Tour like he used to.
For the German-speaking Thiem fans who prefer a rather short journey, a start in Munich would be a good thing. Thiem last served at the MTTC Iphitos in 2016, defeating Alexander Zverev in the semifinals, only to lose Philipp Kohlschreiber in the final in the tie-break of the third set. Incidentally, the two exceptional German players will serve again in Munich: Zverev as the big favorite, Kohlschreiber (a wildcard for the three-time champion can be assumed) for perhaps the last time.
The altitude of the Bavarian capital would also provide Dominic Thiem with adequate preparation for the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid. And there Thiem has a semi-final in 2021 and thus 360 points to defend.