Dominic Thiem: We're going to New York on Saturday
Dominic Thiem was the "Exhibition King" of the last few months - but now it's getting really serious again.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Aug 13, 2020, 04:20 pm
Thiem plans to start both at the Western & Southern Open (from August 22nd) and directly afterwards at the US Open (from August 31st). And together with Novak Djokovic is considered the top favorite, especially since defending champion Rafael Nadal had canceled his participation . Thiem's flight to the "Big Apple" starts on Saturday (August 15), as reported by the Austrian news agency APA .
His coach, Nicolas Massu, gave a little glimpse of the New York "bubble". "Of course things will not be normal there. On the other hand, the tournaments will have to start again at some point," said the Chilean at a media meeting in Vienna on Wednesday. And the 2004 Olympic champion absolutely advocates strict measures: "If you don't follow the rules, you will be disqualified. But you have to respect that because they are going to great lengths to host the tournament. I think it will work." Massu knows: "Dominic loves to play tournaments, they have all been waiting for months now."
Massu on Thiem: seen really strong in Kitz and Berlin "
Massu is also aware of the advantage that Thiem could have over his colleagues. Because no player has contested nearly as many show tournaments as the Lichtenwörther, who impressed Massu especially in Kitzbühel and Berlin. "There I saw him really strong. He looks very good physically, has good energy. It will also be crucial how you do it from the head. And it will be interesting to see how you play in a big stadium without fans . "
Incidentally, Thiem can score fully on his US tour, had to sit out sick in Cincinnati in 2019 and lost in New York in round 1. That there could be some surprises because nobody really knows how he is in shape or whether the shape can be transported to the match court? It could be, says Massu. "It's not easy if you don't play for six months. But the players who made the difference before the break will do it again, that's why they're so good."