Dominic Thiem takes stock of Bastad: "Like day and night"
Dominic Thiem was able to celebrate the first two match wins on the ATP tour in 14 months at Bastad's ATP 250 event. Accordingly, the Austrian's balance sheet is extremely positive despite the quarter-final defeat against Sebastian Baez .
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Jul 16, 2022, 09:57 am
The reaction actually spoke volumes: When Dominic Thiem converted the match ball against the Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut - by no means the Austrian's favorite opponent - with a powerful forehand, the 28-year-old gave his fist with a vehemence that you don't really get from the man from Lichtenwörth was used to. The message: This victory was an immensely important one.
Dominic Thiem could also see that against the lively Sebastian Baez. The two successes against Emil Ruusuvuori and Roberto Bautista Agut had given the Austrian something back that seemed to have been lost for a long time: self-confidence. Great fighting spirit, an ever more powerful forehand and a stable game from the backhand (always peppered with bullets worth seeing) - slowly but surely the old Dominic Thiem is recognizable on the clay courts of this world.
Thiem loses "deservedly" against Baez
The balance after the three matches in Bastad, Sweden, was quite positive despite the narrow three-set defeat against Sebastian Baez at Dominic Thiem: "It was a really good match for the further process and a big improvement compared to last week. It was like day and night, a big step forward," said Thiem, who particularly emphasized the combative aspect as "very good".
Against Sebastian Baez it was a deserved defeat from Thiem's point of view, as the Austrian emphasized: "I was the slightly weaker player for three sets and wobbled in many of my service games. He was definitely the deserved winner, but I was able to keep the game tight." So tight that at the end of the third set the Austrian even had another chance to get back into the match with several break opportunities.
Thiem with confidence to Gstaad
Now the focus of the 28-year-old is back on the upcoming tasks: the ATP 250 events in Gstaad and Kitzbühel. Where the Austrian has big plans: "I've already won both tournaments and I'm really looking forward to it," said Thiem. "I have a lot more confidence and I can at least put most opponents in a really good fight."
At the same time, the former world number three also saw where there was still room for improvement in his game. Team Thiem will now work meticulously on these aspects. So that the upward trend that started in Salzburg and Bastad can continue seamlessly.