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Until three years ago, he was considered Rafael Nadal's number one opponent on clay.
From ancient history.
As in 2021, the 29-year-old Austrian took the door in the first round.
This Sunday, he was outclassed by the 87th world Hugo Dellien (6-3, 6-2, 6-4) in just two hours of play. Thiem had flashes (29 winning shots against 15 for Delien), but especially committed too many unforced errors (42 against 14).
Especially on the forehand.
A lethal weapon that had allowed him to win the US Open 2020: “
In training, my forehand works well, but in matches and in Grand Slams, it's different.
I don't have a good feeling at the moment on the forehand and I'm making a lot of mistakes.
That's what happened today.
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The 2018-2019 double finalist was absent from the short ten months to treat a serious wrist injury.
Since his return to the circuit at the end of March, the former world number 3 has lost his seven matches and has not won since… May 2021. Terrible: “
I still lack power in my shots,
he notes.
And not just on the forehand, my first serve percentage is too low and my serve doesn't hurt enough.
Backhand, it's not too bad, but it lacks length and speed.
And sometimes, I make really bad decisions, very stupid decisions, with amortizations when it's not the right time.
And in a match situation, I don't play well.
And, two or three years ago, when I was playing very well, my forehand and my shots were working very well in practice, and I had a lot of confidence because I had a lot of wins.
It was much easier.
We will have to regain that confidence and that will help me in matches in times that are a bit tense.
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Maybe I'll have to go back to challengers (second division), actually, to be able to win tournaments.
Dominic Thiem
The now 194th in the world wants to remain positive: “
It's no secret that I started training well and being very consistent only 6 or 7 weeks ago.
It's still too early, given the type of injury I had.
The key is to be patient, to continue to be patient and to work on the things that are wrong.
And it will come back!
That is going to take time.
What I can say of course is that I am disappointed.
I thought I could play well again, but I see that it will take a few more months to be able to beat the very best.
Maybe I'll have to go back to challengers (second division), actually, to be able to win tournaments.
Of course, having a victory would help me a lot!
And if I have my first victory, well, I hope that I will be able to work better in the context of a match.
“Time is running out for the one who was announced as the successor to Nadal Porte d’Auteuil …
