Erste Bank Open: Last year's triumph for Dominic Thiem "biggest title after the US Open"
Dominic Thiem will start the mission to defend his title at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna on Tuesday. At the opening press conference, the Austrian spoke about his draw, the expectations for the tournament and his fitness level.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Oct 25, 2020, 01:50 pm
By Michael Rothschädl from the Wiener Stadthalle
There were really big emotions in the Wiener Stadthalle last year when Dominic Thiem, the local hero, concluded the final duel with his friend Diego Schwartzman with a forehand winner, sank to his knees and surrendered to the cheers of the frenetic home crowd. It is already clear before the start of the ATP 500 event that the situation will be completely different in 2020.
The Lower Austrian is confronted with two new eventualities, on the one hand he has to assert himself against a significantly stronger field of participants, but on the other hand can only look forward to around 1000 spectators in the Wiener Stadthalle. "Of course a lot of things are different this year, we are in the bubble, I will sleep in a hotel in Vienna for the first time and not at home. First and foremost, however, I am of course happy that we can play in Vienna this year," said the world number three about the special events in the Austrian capital.
Despite the reduced number of spectators, there will be at least a touch of home game atmosphere for the Lichtenwörther, which is also and especially due to the court, which is relocated to the Wiener Stadthalle. The same rebound ace courts are played in the Academy of the Austrian Tennis Committee (ATC), co-founded by father Thiem, which the world number three inaugurated in a preparatory training session with Stan Wawrinka in the middle of last week.
Six top 10 players in the field
"The conditions are great. I had a training session with Novak Djokovic this morning and will train again in the afternoon. The pace is rather medium, so it is prepared for great tennis. I am looking forward to a very special week," said the Austrian in the opening press conference. It will also be Novak Djokovic, who will probably be the biggest competitor for the title at home, although with Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev and Diego Schwartzman, four other top 10 players make up the field of the ATP 500 Adorn events.
"It will be almost a Mission Impossible to be able to defend the title here, but of course I want to play for the title," said the Austrian about the particular challenge. When asked whether it would be difficult to set new goals after the great triumph at the US Open, the world number three had a very clear answer ready: "Of course I won't look back too much now, I will now find new ones Set goals. And Vienna is of course a great place to start, "says Thiem.
Nishikori did not start
In any case, the mission to defend the title at the Erste Bank Open will begin on the "THIEMstag" branded especially for the home favorite, on which the Austrian will serve against Kei Nishikori. An opponent for whom the US Open winner has only positive words to say: "It was to be expected that a big name would be waiting in the first round. Players like Kei are always very dangerous, they are always capable of to be in top form one week after the other. " Now he will watch a few scenes from Nishikori's first round match at the French Open. A video analysis of Nishikori's last hard court match from 2019 is also planned. "But I know what it's like to play against him. We have already played four or five matches against each other."
Meanwhile, the Lower Austrian is convinced of the opposite that the physical exertion that Thiem had emphasized again and again during the French Open could become a problem: "The tanks are pretty full, although it was of course very, very exhausting, as next to the physical ones and emotional stress, life in the bubble is very demanding. " But he has now regenerated well, and put his feet up completely for a few days. "Now it took me a few days to get fully back in," said Thiem. Who wants to start in doubles tomorrow in addition to today's two trainings. "Then I will hopefully be at 100% on Tuesday."
Here you can find all information about the Erste Bank Open!