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They will be given a partial travel warning due to the coronavirus pandemic starting Monday. Thiem, however, is already in the next safety bubble and is one of the favorites at the French Open.
However, the 27-year-old world number three has a very difficult draw ahead of him. “It’s really difficult, of course. Anyway, I’m just concentrating on the first round. Cilic’s last match in New York was very tight, even though it was in four sets, we were a little less than fifth,” Thiem said. Friday. There is hardly a nastier opponent. “Because he is an absolute champion, he has won everything and believes in each game one hundred percent in victory. I have to be there from the beginning,” Thiem repeated the last statements he had made before the third round match against the Croatian. at Flushing Meadows. .
Nadal possible rival in semifinals
If Thiem brings his best form in Paris, then he is again a candidate for the title. But there can be no repeat of the 2018 and 2019 finals against superstar Rafael Nadal for the draw. Nadal would be an opponent of Lichtenwrther in the semifinals. Thiem is not particularly concerned about that. “Well, it was clear from the beginning: if I really want to get to the final, or do I have to beat Djokovic or Nadal in the semi-final. Now it’s Nadal in my half or me in his, or rather, the way to get there. “. it’s really a step forward, “declared the 17-time winner of the tournament.
He has the next round in mind, but the focus is solely on Cilic. “It’s really tough, the draw couldn’t have been worse. I’m just trying to prepare really well, do some good training sessions and then be there.”
He’s used to the fall temperatures in Paris of previous years in the changing springtime of the city of love. “It’s already great, you can clearly feel that fall is here, but it’s the end of September,” said Thiem, who completed two first training sessions on Thursday. “I almost exclusively have good memories of Roland Garros. So as soon as I step onto the pitch, I always feel good.”
Thiem feels safe in Paris
Corona’s “bubble” in Paris is very similar to New York, but: “It feels completely different because we’ve never been to New York City. We’re just between Long Island and the facility.” and trips where we didn’t actually see people. Here we drive completely through the city and the city feels completely normal. There are a lot of people in the street, the restaurants are full, all with masks. “
For Thiem it is difficult to imagine that “life is normal, but when the tournament starts there are very few spectators”. It feels safe despite the admitted viewers in Paris, albeit reduced to just 1,000. “Neither the tournament nor the city of Paris want to be guilty of anything. I think that both the spectators and the players are very safe and we don’t have to worry.”
Other balls as an advantage for Djokovic?
The tournament ball change (from Babolat to Wilson), which bounces less high and also the generally cooler temperatures, could be an advantage for Novak Djokovic. “Maybe that will benefit Novak a little more, but apart from all that, a Nadal is always the top favorite in Paris, then nothing comes in a long time,” says Thiem. The previous story with twelve titles and “because he is by far the best clay court player in history” were his reasons.
Does the pressure drop after the first major title really help? “We’ll see that in the first game. But it definitely feels that way because some pressure has lifted. No matter what happens from now on, I’m a Grand Slam winner. No one will ever take that away from me.” Thiem knows. However, everything starts from scratch in Paris. “That means I don’t have a bonus from any opponent, maybe I have a little advantage in myself because this big pressure is gone.”
Another advantage, especially for players who did very well like him in Paris in 2019, is that the best points performance (2019 or 2020) will definitely remain in the ATP rankings until the next edition of the French Open. . Thiem “must” therefore not defend the 1,200 points of the previous year. “Of course, it is also in the back of the mind that you have to defend the points and maybe a drop in the rankings is possible. This has now been avoided by the new system.” That is why it is important, Thiem smiles, to enjoy those few tournaments where this is the case. “He’ll be back soon enough that you have to defend all the points.”
