Erste Bank Open: Dominic Thiem before duel with Cristian Garin - "It has to be improved"
Dominic Thiem was extremely self-reflective after his hard-fought opening success at the Erste Bank Open - and already knows what needs to be done better in round two against Cristian Garin .
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Oct 28, 2020, 07:58 am
By Michael Rothschädl from the Wiener Stadthalle
In the middle of the first set of Dominic Thiem's opening match at the Erste Bank Open, one had the impression that this would go on in the usual way. The Austrian had against his opponent, the world number 529. Vitaliy Sachko, everything under control, was 5: 1 ahead after a rather average performance. But then the tide should turn, Thiem scattered too many mistakes, Sachko got better and better into the game. And in set one almost to a 5: 5 equalization. The young Ukrainian missed two chances and had to give up round one on a break 4-6.
"A lot of things weren't easy", Dominic Thiem should think after his progression. He would have been prepared for Kei Nishikori if his training had also been adapted to the experienced Japanese. "And then there is an opponent that I don't know at all. I saw maybe five minutes of his qualifying matches," said the third in the world rankings. The 23-year-old already played good tennis there and even defeated a top 100 man with Pierre Hughes-Herbert. "It was my first match to Paris - I always need something to get in," said Thiem.
Thiem very satisfied with the intensity at the end
He didn't play anything "extraordinary" until the 5: 1, he would have benefited from a nervous start of his opponent, but then had to watch how he should get better and better into the game. "Towards the end of the match, however, I kept improving. I was quite satisfied with the intensity in the last games," said Thiem, assessing the course of the game. With a score of 6: 5 in the equally tight second round, the Lichtenwörther was able to break to win the match - and in this game played his three most beautiful balls of the game.
Such a cold start is meanwhile not unusual for Thiem, since he always had the problem of starting tournaments a little slowly. "I actually trained well, especially with very good players." In the match it is a bit different, I wasn't as relaxed as in training, of course I went in with the attitude that I had to win against him, "explained the newcomer US Open champion his emotional world. Thiem never thought of that against the world number 529. Thiem never thought of that. "Of course I never thought that everything would be easy. I expected this difficult game. "
In round two against Wawrinka conqueror Garin
The Austrian's next game at the top-class Erste Bank Open will not be easy either. T he Lower Austrian will meet the clay court specialist Cristian Garin in the round of 16, who knocked Stan Wawrinka out of the tournament in three contested sets on Tuesday evening. "For this match, an increase in performance is definitely required. That is exactly why I am so happy that I was able to raise my level so well towards the end of the match," explained Thiem. This is exactly what the world number three would like to build on, at best find the usual intensity much earlier in the second round.
Garin doesn't know Thiem as well as Stan Wawrinka, but he still has a pretty good idea of what to expect against the Chilean on Thursday. "He is very solid, has a strong backhand. He is also in good shape and has already celebrated two tournament victories in 2020. But I think that he feels more comfortable on clay, in slower conditions, so I'll try to get the game up quickly so that he doesn't have the time he needs to feel good, "the 27-year-old already has a very clear plan for how he would like to go to work in round two. Until then, he will now use the day off to train well again - and to get to his top form step by step.