“Dominic has type C stomach inflammation, which is not without problems,” explained Thiem’s manager and brother Moritz to ORF. “The good thing is that no bacteria like Heliocobacter were found.” Thiem is now getting medication that calms everything down and helps the stomach heal. “Unfortunately, this means we won’t be able to play the match on Friday and Saturday. It makes no sense to send him onto the pitch now after a ten-day break, especially for such an important match.”
Instead of Thiem, Dennis Novak (ATP No. 192) moved up to the Davis Cup team. In addition, captain Jürgen Melzer offers Sebastian Ofner as number one (ATP No. 58), neo-top 100 man Jurij Rodionov (100) and the doubles duo Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler (ATP 34/35).
GEPA/Hans Oberlaender At the US Open, Thiem was eliminated in round two against eventual semi-finalist Ben Shelton
First complaints in July in Gstaad
As Thiem had previously explained at a press conference on the Erste Bank Open, he first had complaints in July in Gstaad, i.e. before his final in Kitzbühel. After the home tournament things got worse. “It was strange because I was fit. But I threw up every single day. “I became more and more tired towards the US Open,” explained the 30-year-old from Lower Austria, who spoke of “quite a stomach infection”.
ORF timetable
Thursday:
2 p.m.: Draw
Freitag:
3:00 p.m.: 1st day of competition
Saturday:
2 p.m.: 2nd day of competition
He knows the complaints a little from before, but in the training week before the US Open – after the tournament in Winston-Salem was canceled – it “really came to the fore. “It’s gotten worse instead of better.” At least he hasn’t had to vomit since taking medication. “I’m definitely on the mend.”
“Body a bit battered”
Thiem suspects that he may have caught something while eating. “All the traveling, the different food, we are a little more susceptible to it. If it’s bacteria, I’ll probably get medication.” In any case, the health restrictions would still have an impact. “The body was a bit beaten up.” In the last few days, the 30-year-old started training casually again.
It probably won’t take him a long time to get back to his current best level. “If my stomach is okay, I’m confident that I’ll be able to play well again relatively quickly. I played well in the USA and the fitness level is right. The good thing is that now there is something every week.” Next week he wants to play in Bad Waltersdorf, then Asia. “Every week until Metz in mid-November I have a chance to demonstrate my good form. That’s why I want to get fit again as quickly as possible,” said Thiem.
According to Brother Moritz, the plan now is to “take the medication and give him some rest, and then we will plan everything else.” Dominic currently “looks a bit weak and tired”, but that should improve in the next few days with the medication. We still have a week until the tournament in Bad Waltersdorf, until then we will see how the whole thing develops or improves.
