US Open: Dominic Thiem - Praise from Rafael Nadal
Austria's number one, Dominic Thiem, has still not completely overcome his illness caught in Montreál. At the media day there was praise from the highest place for the Lower Austrian.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Aug 23, 2019, 08:31 pm
By Jens Huiber from New York City
Perhaps Dominic Thiem had already guessed what would await him at the Media Day of the US Open: a tour de force of almost one hour in front of the cameras of the broadcasting TV stations, before or after that a conversation on the podium that was like last year in the middle of the Louis Armstrong Stadium. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal took the time, Novak Djokovic voluntarily waived.
Thiem is generally keen to provide information, but on Friday before the start of the US Open 2019, the almost 26-year-old did not make the media appointment. No cause for concern, as the Austria Press Agency has found out, rather a precaution to protect the still weak body of the Austrian number one.
Thiem trains only once
On Thursday, Thiem had a training session with Roger Federer at the grand stand, in high summer temperatures. However, the Lower Austrian skipped the afternoon session and greeted the aftermath of the illness, which had made starting in Cincinnati impossible.
When Dominic Thiem will join the tournament is not known until Friday evening local time. The only thing that seems certain is that the draw for the last major of the year was not unfriendly. In the semifinals, if you want to look so far ahead, there could be a reissue of the legendary match from 2018 against Rafael Nadal.
Nadal is looking forward to the Laver Cup
The Spaniard was full of praise for Thiem on the media day. "Dominic is improving year by year," said the 18-time Grand Slam champion. "He has everything it takes to win important events." It was only a matter of time before Thiem reached his high goals.
When asked about the upcoming days together at the Laver Cup in Geneva, Nadal went one better. “Two years ago we were together in the team in Prague. It's always great to spend time with him. He is a tall, tall man. A very nice person. "