Dominic Thiem needs every point for the French Open
Dominic Thiem will start the clay court season in Estoril next week. In order to get straight into the main draw of the French Open, the Austrian urgently needs points.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Mar 31, 2023, 08:36 am
As is well known, Dominic Thiem received a wildcard for the main draw at the last two Grand Slam tournaments in New York City and Melbourne, for the upcoming French Open Thiem would rather play for the place in the 128 grid directly. However, points are needed for this: Dominic Thiem is currently in position 106 in the ATP world rankings, which is two places worse than needed for a fixed place. Of course you can assume that there will be a few cancellations, but Thiem certainly doesn't want to build on that.
The last few weeks have not been easy for the 2020 US Open champion, as he explained in an interview with ORF on Thursday. "It would be very important to have a couple of wins or a win once, so that the switch is flipped again. Those were four first-round defeats in a row, which don't help for self-confidence. That's why I'm making sure that I start with that next week in Portugal and get back into positive territory from the losing streak."
Thiem wants to start in Monte Carlo
It starts on sand in Estoril, where Dominic Thiem slipped into the field. It is well known that he then has Monte Carlo on his agenda. When the wildcards were awarded, however, the 29-year-old went away empty-handed. And the current ranking is not enough for a place in the qualification.
"I still have time next week and the week after next, so basically two more chances. I have to score points there," Thiem explained further with regard to Roland Garros. After the Monte Carlo week is billed. The possible points that Thiem earns when he starts in Munich or at the ATP Challenger tournament in Mauthausen, of course count for the world rankings, but no longer have any influence on his right to start at the French Open 2023.