Thiem renews illusions – AS.com

“Don’t worry, victories will come to you too,” Andy Murray told Dominic Thiem after their match at this year’s Mutua Madrid Open. On the net, with a heartfelt, empathetic hug. Both know the worst side of tennis and both have turned their backs on it this year. About. Each has its own rhythm. The Briton has reached his best level since, in 2019, the withdrawal was considered due to his hip problems; The Austrian, for his part, continues in a continuous process of redemption that, from less to more, has allowed him to renew dreams. In July, he achieved his first ATP win in 426 days; This week, in the World Tennis League, of which he was proclaimed champion with the Hawks, he was hopeful for 2023. “I have the feeling that I am on the right track and that expectations for 2023 are rising. Despite that, it’s going to be difficult as I won’t be seeded. My goal is to be able to beat anyone again, to go far in each tournament,” he said. The notice is released.

A show of confidence after a thorny path. Before his first victory this year, Thiem had lost ten in a row. Not at any time, just after nine months off the slopes due to his right hand injury. When the joys were an emergency, the blows seemed to become routine. “I had a really difficult period, with many defeats, so it seemed difficult for me to close the game,” he analyzed after beating Emil Ruusuvuori in Bastad, in his reunion with the victory. “I was happy that he gave me the game with a double fault, I really needed it,” he joked about the outcome of the duel. The situation called for it. I was experiencing an unknown situation since Rome 2021, against Marton Fucsovics. “It was tough, but it was also a very good experience, I think, for life in general and for all of my tennis,” he reflected.

Since then, little by little, the good news has been arriving for the winner of the US Open in 2020. In July, it dropped to 339th position in the ranking; Now, he closes the year close to the top-100, as 102nd. A balance of 18 wins and 16 losses with three semifinals (Gstaad, Gijón and Antwerp) and two quarterfinals (Bastad and Kitzbuhel). “I hope so,” he replied in conversation with this newspaper, in Asturias, when asked if he saw himself as a winner in another great tournament. “I have the belief that I can do it. If not, I would leave my career. I was at the top, in the top three of the ranking. And yes, I have the feeling that I am capable of fighting again for the big titles, for the Slams, and beat anyone. Otherwise, all this hard work wouldn’t make sense to me,” he added. After all that hard work, months of recovery, readaptation and the decision to pick up the pace in tournaments Challenger, which has not stopped playing throughout the year, ending in Rennes. A champion knows how to deal with his pride.

With force towards Australia

Next stop, Australia. In the oceanic Grand Slam, Thiem will try to continue what was shown during the final stretch of 2022. At the same time, he will have the first opportunity to show that he is a player to be reckoned with on the big stages. As he himself announced this December, he will receive a wild card to be present at the tournament. He also hopes to get better than ever. “He’s fresh, he’s ready, he’s fit and he’s not in pain. With another big training block in November and December, I think he will be at another level in Australia. He will have full power and he will be stronger and faster than ever. He’s never really done a strength program on a scientific level, so we’ve done a lot of strength work to make it much more explosive,” said Jez Green., physical trainer of both Thiem himself and Murray, in October. In Australia, a threat capable of beating the best Nadal or Djokovic may be present again.