Ivan Ljubicic about Dominic Thiem: "Difference to the Big-3 still big"
Ivan Ljubicic slowed down the high expectations towards Dominic Thiem . The Croatian ex-professional does not believe that the Austrian will successfully attack number one in the ATP ranking next season.
by Lukas Zahrer
last edit: Dec 14, 2019, 06:34 pm
“He is a fantastic player. We have immense respect for him because he has struck three times this year. But the Big-3 have countless slams, Thiem was only in two finals. The difference is still big, ”said Ljubicic during the Diriyah Tennis Cup.
Thiem showed good tennis and proved that he can win big tournaments. But it was still too early to jump to the top of the world rankings. "I don't believe in it," said Ljubicic. “He wasn't even in the top three. But maybe all Big-3 will go under at the same time. ”Then the opportunities for Thiem are there, although Ljubicic thinks this is not very realistic.
Thiem won five titles on the ATP tour last year, including his first at a Masters 1000 in Indian Wells. At the French Open, the 26-year-old reached a final in a Grand Slam tournament for the second time in his career, but also lost to Rafael Nadal for the second time.
"He is a player who actually has the potential to win Grand Slams someday," said Ljubicic of the current number four in the world rankings, but warned at the same time: "I remember Guillermo Coria, who played against Gaston in the 2004 Paris final Gaudio lost. We immediately said: He will be a future Grand Slam winner. "
However, the Argentine won nine titles on the tour, but not a major triumph. "Thiem - like Stefanos Tstisipas - only has to prove himself regularly at the very big tournaments and seize his opportunities," said Ljubicic.
Ivan Ljubicic about Roger Federer: “Hard work”
The 40-year-old paid a short visit to the invitation tournament in Saudi Arabia and coached a group of 30 young players. The instructions were short because he worked with his protégé Roger Federer in Dubai on the shape for 2020.
In the season preparation, Ljubicic made comparisons with his active time. "It's not like it used to be. The tour does not give you a longer break in which you can fully prepare for the season. Today you have to take several small breaks during the season, ”said Ljubicic, knowing that Federer always puts quality before quantity in tournament planning. “With Roger it always looks as if everything would fly to him so easily. But there is hard work behind everything. ”
Federer is playing a show match in Hangzhou (China) at the end of December, where he will face Alexander Zverev. According to Ljubicic, the Swiss will travel to the city in eastern China on December 27, but will return to Dubai after the event. Federer canceled his appearance at the ATP Cup, the first appearance will only take place at the Australian Open.
"He was already close this year. I firmly believe in another Grand Slam victory, otherwise we wouldn't work so hard, ”said Ljubicic with an outlook for 2020.
In the race for number one in the world, he sees Nadal and Novak Djokovic slightly ahead of Federer. "They will play a little more than Roger, so they have an advantage," he said. Ljubicic did not want to fix a tip for the top of the ranking at the end of next year, but when asked about the Big 3: “When they play against each other, there is always a great match. It's very simple: the one who wins two or three slams becomes number one. ”
Ljubicic sees the status of tennis as "never before - and it will be even better". There are many nostalgics, but you have to “keep in mind that the world is in better shape in 2019 than it was 30 or 40 years ago”.
Ljubicic has been on the ATP tour for 14 years, winning ten titles. At the French Open 2006, he reached the semi-finals, his only one in a Grand Slam tournament. Shortly before, he was in third place on the ranking, which meant his best career ranking. In 2005 he won the Davis Cup with the Croatian team. From 2013 to 2015 he trained Milos Raonic, and since 2016 he has been one of Roger Federer's coaches.