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Dominic Thiem feels well prepared for the 2020 ATP Finals. Austria’s number one can also envision a start at the 2021 Olympics.
by Jens Huiber
Last edit: November 13, 2020, 3:28 pm
© GEPA Images
Dominic Thiem saved the boat trip from the player’s hotel directly on the London Eye to the O2 Arena in 2019 from the middle of the week. A little cold made it seem more sensible to move to the hotel that is right next to the pavilion where the ATP Finals have been held since 2009. In the current edition, the last in London, the Austrian number one does not have to worry about a possible move: due to the crown pandemic, all players are now staying as close to the O2 Arena as possible.
It would only be a five minute walk from the hotel to the complex, but that was not allowed. In general, precautions in London would be almost as strict as in New York City: only two people were allowed at a table, unless they were five meters apart. Nor has he seen anyone in the hotel who has nothing to do with the end of the season.
The good news is that all the players are in top form in London. Of course, that includes himself after he had bladder problems in Vienna. On the contrary, he is in such good shape that he could travel to Australia immediately after London week to play a major there, Thiem said at the international part of the Media Day press conference. In 2019 that would not have been the case at all.
Thiem would play in Tokyo in 2021
Somewhat surprising was Thiem’s announcement that he would participate in the Olympics next year. Tokyo is one of his favorite cities and he has fundamentally changed his mind about the games. In the meantime, it would be a pleasure for him to play in Tokyo, in 2021 that would also be possible, this year he had canceled early due to the engagement in Kitzbühel. As for next year, he cannot say anything about Kitzbühel because the dates have not yet been set.
The change of opinion would have started in 2016. Thiem decided from the beginning not to start in Rio de Janeiro. And then, based on the emotions of Juan Martín del Potro or Andy Murray, he determined that he too would like to experience something like this. If he continues his career, he could still compete in three Olympics.
Sugar against tsitsipas at the beginning.
But right now it’s about London. And there the replay of the 2019 final against Stefanos Tsitsipas (Sunday at 3pm live on Sky and on our live ticker) would bring a “gift”, said Thiem. Basically a good start is extremely important, he has learned it from his previous appearances in London. Last year he managed to beat Roger Federer, and in the second match he won against Novak Djokovic.
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