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© Sportreport
“Everything is fixed and really great that at least we can play in front of 1,000 spectators.” In a common At a press conference with world number one Novak Djokovic, Sports Minister Werner Kogler and tournament director Herwig Straka, defending champion from Vienna Dominic Thiem spoke on Sunday about the strong lineup at the Erste Bank Open, his first-round opponent Kei Nishikori and how he recently recharged his batteries.
Do you often think about your triumph here last year?
Dominic Thiem: Almost every day! All the games were sold out and there was an incredible atmosphere. After the US Open, it is still my most important title and without a doubt one of the most exciting. Starting a tournament as a defending champion is always something special. This year is even more special. The field here is very strong, perhaps the best in an ATP 500 tournament.
How do you prepare for your first round opponent, Kei Nishikori?
I recently saw a bit at Roland Garros. He was hurt for a while and now he’s back. He was in the top ten for a long time, he played the Grand Slam final, such a player is always dangerous.
How do you analyze a player like Nishikori who has been injured for so long?
He played his last hard court game in 2019 so I will definitely watch some and other videos from Paris. But I know how he plays, we have had some games. He was definitely one of the best players of the last decade and such a player is always dangerous. It’s like with Marin Cilic in New York and Paris.
How have you recharged your batteries after the last few weeks?
I recovered well for a few days at home and once I did nothing. It took me a while to get back to my physical level, but I would say that I am completely back in my head and in my body. It only took a little time after Paris to be able to reflect on everything. I am very grateful that we can play here.
What is life like in the bubble?
Recently it was great to finally sleep in your own bed again. But, like I said, I’m happy that we can play here. And we do not lack anything: it is the first time that I live here in the hotel, otherwise I always slept at home, but everything is simply amazing: the food, the hotel itself, the court in the town hall. Everything is fixed and it’s really cool that we can at least play in front of 1,000 spectators.
The field of participants almost never, but the prize money has been significantly reduced. Do players have to bake smaller muffins in the long run?
I think a lot of tournaments have to go down with the prize money during this time. But that affects this whole bubble, by that I mean big sports like soccer, tennis and some American sports, where the prize money is very, very high and has continued to rise. It’s hard to imagine that this will go on forever. It would be a healthy thing for everyone involved if everything stabilized somewhere in between.
In the run-up to the Erste Bank Open, Dominic Thiem and Dennis Novak took a very special sightseeing tour of Vienna.
This link leads to the video “Tennis City Guide”:
Novak Djokovic: “It is a great challenge to win the tournament in Vienna”
At the press conference with Dominic Thiem, Vice Chancellor and Minister of Sports Werner Kogler and tournament director Herwig Straka, the world number one Novak Djokovic recalled his victory in Vienna in 2007, spoke about a possible new edition of the final of Melbourne against Austria’s number one and his life in the Viennese bubble.
How about here in Vienna?
Novak Djokovic: It’s great to be here. I haven’t been here for 13 years, but I have great memories of my victory in the 2007 tournament. The Stadthalle is one of the most beautiful stadiums we have on the circuit and the atmosphere here is excellent. Vienna and Austria also have a great tradition in tennis thanks to Dominic, Thomas Muster and Babsi Schett.
Is the road to a new edition of the Melbourne final against Dominic Thiem long here in Vienna?
We trained together today and it was so intense that I thought we were going to play the final. I have a lot of respect for him and he deserves so much to win the US Open this year. Of course, I hope there will be a final between the two of us, but there is a long way to go. Especially with this strong field of players here.
How do you rate your drawing?
Just a few days ago I joked with Filip (Krajinovic, his first round opponent; note) about what it would be like. The chance of this happening is very small, but then it happened. We are good friends and he likes to play hard. The first game is always difficult.
How does the Vienna bubble compare to those in New York and Paris?
I’ve only been here for a day, but we have a great hotel, great food, and great conditions. Of course, there are small differences between the bubbles, but in general, the rules are always the same. Would I just like to go for a walk? Naturally. But we are here for the tournament and it is always about whether you see something positive or negative.
What is your opinion on the field of the players at the Erste Bank Open?
It will be a great challenge to win the tournament in Vienna. It is probably the strongest 500 field of all time and it may happen that you run into world number 15 in the first round. But that’s the situation right now. It is difficult to organize a tournament at the moment. Vienna is the only big event this week and of course the best want to be there.
Is Pete Sampras’ record a goal? He was number one in the world rankings six times at the end of the year!
Sampras was my idol as a child and of course I want to finish this year as world number one and set his record with that. This achievement is undoubtedly one of the greatest in world sport.
Erste Bank Open press release
Erste Bank opening hours Monday
25.10.2020
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