[ad_1]
Experience has taught him that a good start in the ATP Finals is important. Dominic Thiem accomplished that on Sunday with a 7: 6 (5), 4: 6, 6: 3 success over defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas. The world number three is in the ATP season showdown for the fifth time and has avoided standing with his back to the wall after an opening loss in the second group match “London 2020”. This is against Rafael Nadal on Tuesday.
The world number two defeated Vienna winner Andrej Rublew of Russia 6: 3, 6: 4 in the second group match on Sunday night. Thiem, who progressed to the semi-finals as a group winner after two group wins over Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic last year, will face the third player from the Big Three on Tuesday (not before 3pm CET) in London, for the first time in the season finale. .
For Thiem, it will be his 15th game with the 13-time French Open winner. Thiem is head-to-head 5: 9, but won the last duel in the Australian Open quarter-finals last January 7: 6, 7: 6, 4: 6, 7: 6. In the group’s next Tuesday game Thiem, Tsitsipas and Rublew face off, on Thursday Thiem will play his last group match against Rublew.
“I hope I can improve”
“I am happy to have finished the game in a positive way,” said Thiem, who wanted to prepare for his second assignment on Monday with good training. “I hope I can improve on Tuesday,” was his goal. “Nadal is Nadal, he is the favorite in all the tournaments. I also think he is fitter and better prepared than in recent years, simply because the season was not that long,” Thiem said even before the Spanish’s first appearance.
Nadal was happy with his “positive start” to his 10th ATP Finals, where he finally wants to win the Masters title he is missing. “My serve worked very well today. I have a very difficult match against Dominic ahead of me, but I managed to win in straight sets. That gives me confidence,” Nadal said after his opening victory.
Not without brother
Thiem described the conditions at the O2 Arena, without the usual 17,500 fans, as “really fast”. That is why the serve, especially that of the outside world, is “really important”. “If you serve well, chances are high that the point is yours.”
As grateful as Thiem is that he can even stumble upon his sport amid the coronavirus pandemic, it is also mentally draining for him to play without a spectator. And the strict “bubble” life with no distractions bothered him too. “The atmosphere of 17,000 people brings so much positive energy that it is missing. Now you have to cheer yourself up all the time, give yourself energy. That’s exhausting.”
In addition, it only goes from the hotel to the hall and vice versa. And not even on foot despite the hallway right next door. Of course, distractions such as a meal in the city, small excursions, etc. are not mentioned. “It’s difficult because we could have two or three minutes of fresh air all day and not see the sun. But it’s great that the tournament is going on,” Thiem said. “But it can also be very, very lonely,” confessed the Austrian, who at least has his little brother Moritz in London to cheer him on. (apa)
