Dominic Thiem: "Slowly ready for high-level matches"
Dominic Thiem spoke to ORF about the progress of his advanced training - and made hope for a good result in Madrid.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Apr 27, 2021, 08:16 am
So now Madrid. In the Spanish capital it will be time for Dominic Thiem to return to the big tennis stage. The Austrian, who after the moderate performance at the two desert tournaments in Doha and Dubai, had said goodbye to a competition (and also training break), is starting his way back at the ATP Masters 1000 event.
#VIDEO#
We are currently working hard for this - in Alt-Erlaa. It was a tough way back, and the world number four noticed the break in training enormously, especially in the first few days: "Of course, you notice that in the first few days, both with the punches and physically. The first few days were really hard. The whole body has hurt, the punches didn't work out. But after a few intensive and long days of training it came back really quickly, " Thiem is quoted as saying in an ORF report.
Thiem's hunger for success back
Now he is slowly but surely ready to measure himself against the best in the sport: "Now I am slowly getting into the state in which I am ready again for high-level matches," explained Thiem. The hunger for success is now "definitely back", the small hangover after the moderate start to the tennis year 2021 has been overcome.
A hangover that, according to Thiem, does not cause concern - and is absolutely the rule: "That has also accelerated the whole process. Phases like those in recent weeks and months are, I think, quite normal for everyone, probably and maybe still a little aggravated by high-performance athletes, "said Thiem, who emphasized how quickly a slight low is reflected in correspondingly poor results.
Massu is convinced
Successful trainer Nicolas Massu has also been there in Alt-Erlaa for a few days, under whose aegis the fine-tuning for the Mutua Madrid Open is currently on the program. The Chilean is quite satisfied with the performance of his protégé to ORF: "Since I arrived here two weeks ago, I've seen the normal Dominic. He's training incredibly, now we have to work on converting his training performance into the matches. If he so in the mood, he is able to achieve great things. "
Thiem is also quite satisfied with his form, as the Austrian emphasized: "I play really well again, I also move well. Physically, I've lost a bit. But as soon as I was really motivated again, it went really quickly", says Thiem, whose knee still hurts, but this shouldn't be a problem . Nothing can happen, no matter how much I burden. The pain only comes after two or two and a half hours of intense training, but that's okay. When I look at the matches now, there's even more adrenaline going on. "