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After the game is before the game. The famous footballer quote also applies to Dominic Thiem.
After the US Open is before the French Open. Just two weeks after his historic triumph at Flushing Meadows, the Austrian tennis ace will already fight for the next big hit in Paris.
“Due to the special situation this year, the Grand Slam tournaments are closer than ever. I try to take advantage of the tailwind I achieved in New York as much as possible for Paris. “Thiem hopes to harness the wave of success for as long as possible.
For now, however, regeneration is on the order of the day: “The body definitely needs relaxation, which I will also give it. I played seven games at a very high level in New York, so practice will not be a problem.” .
“The big goal is to be whole again in the first round of the French Open. I did very well in New York after the failed game in Cincinnati. Now I have to get back to mastering such a difficult situation. It will be easy to find exactly the right combination. of regeneration and preparation. However, with all the experience of the last years, I hope I can achieve it. “
Mentally there is still a lot to process
Physically, Thiem has no concerns about the French Open despite the effort at Flushing Meadows. “The thighs were already good an hour or two after the game. The Achilles tendon should be 100 percent in Paris at the latest. I hope a little from myself that I can do the big tournaments and matches with a little more. Denies the slack and therefore you can play even better. “
Although there is still a lot to process on a mental level after the turbulent last days. Some players have fallen into a hole after reaching the great goal of their career and have felt a deep emptiness.
Thiem hopes he can avoid that fate. “How it is emotionally, I still can’t know. That was the really, really big goal for two or three years. It was in my head every day that I was training or playing. This absolute will to achieve the goal.” Now I have succeeded and I do not expect a great void to emerge. I want to enjoy it now and think and reflect on the journey that took me there. “
Switching to sand is not a headache
Thiem wants to clear his mind in the next few days, spend time with friends and family, and relax outside with the dog. “That always clears your head,” explains the animal lover, who wants to go back to training on sand at the weekend.
The fact that he cannot play a preparatory tournament on his favorite surface due to the tight schedule should not be a major obstacle for Thiem.
“The transition to the sand is definitely the least of the problems. Until now it has always been the case that after a long phase of hard court on sand I have always felt very good. I really like all the sliding, also because I grew up on this surface “, so Thiem, who will get on the plane to Paris next Wednesday. “The most important task will be to process all the emotions and classify the thoughts. To be able to travel to Paris with freshness in my head.”
Nadal is Thiem’s top favorite
As a great favorite at the French Open, Thiem sees, how could it be otherwise, the twelve-time winner of Paris, Rafael Nadal, against whom he lost in the final in the last two years. “He has an advantage over us because he has not been in New York and has been training on clay in Europe for a long time. If he plays a few games in Rome and builds confidence, then he will be the top seed.”
The ÖTV-Daviscupper doubts that the next generation on the ATP circuit has taken final command with immediate effect. “A lot of people are talking now about a changing of the guard. I don’t see it that way. Djokovic and Nadal will be in top form in Paris and, if that’s the case, they will remain the big favorites in all tournaments.”
Of course, Thiem is also one of the narrowest circles of candidates for the title. The Lichtenwörther hope that the US Open title will have a liberating effect on him.
“I hope and hope from myself that I can start playing better and more relaxed. Because even if I didn’t want to say it or think about it, I have already played with a lot of self-imposed pressure because I have not been able to win any. The thought was always present that, although I had a career unbelievable so far, the really big title was still missing. I would have looked back crying over my tennis career if I had never made it. Everything falls completely away now. So hopefully I can take advantage of that. I hope it helps me in my tennis “.
Fight for number 1
If this is the case, Thiem will almost certainly be involved in the fight for the No. 1 spot in men’s tennis in the near future. He is currently third behind leaders Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
“So far I have not looked at the world rankings at all. The French Open is more in the foreground. Of course, one big goal is now set and now the next one is buzzing in my head,” Thiem said.
“Number one would not be bad. Ranking never had the highest priority for me. I always look for a great tournament where I am now in the ranking. I will continue to prefer the big tournaments as my goal. But if it continues I should go up, then for Of course, I won’t complain. “
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