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Although this year is much different compared to the previous finals, one thing is the same as last year: Thiem is one of the favorites on the 50th anniversary of the event, also known as the “Masters”. The soles of his feet at the Erste Bank Open have been outgrown, and the 27-year-old recently reported that he fit in again.
His manager, Herwig Straka, also seems confident. “He is completely in shape again. Dominic has been training thoroughly for several days and is in a very good mood, ”said the Styrian. Last year, Thiem reached the final for the first time and only narrowly lost 7: 6 (8/6) 2: 6 6: 7 (4/7) against the then 21-year-old Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Thiem as London Athlete of the Year
Ivona Dadic and Dominic Thiem – that’s the name of the 2020 athletes of the year. For Thiem, the award is a motivating boost for the last highlight of the year: the ATP finals in London starting next Sunday.
No spectators, fewer prize money
At that moment, a full house in the east of the cosmopolitan city cheered the stars. But many things have changed since then. Without spectators, a strict security “bubble” and another “ghost tournament” have almost become a habit due to the coronavirus pandemic. And ATP also has to save. The event, which was endowed with $ 9 million the previous year, was reduced to $ 5.7 million. If the champion remains undefeated in the preliminary group, this year he will receive 1.564 million dollars (1.32 million euros); in the previous year it was almost double that of 2,871 million dollars.
In view of the high number of infections in Europe and Great Britain, the celebration of the final phase of the season is anything but a matter of course. Players can only enter the country without quarantine thanks to a special permit, but must enter the usual “bubble” immediately. This time there are no boat trips up the Thames to the city center hotel, but the entire entourage is staying at the hotel next to the O2 stadium. Thiem is only accompanied by coach Nicolas Massu, physio Alex Stober, coach Straka and his brother Moritz.
Straka sees a balanced field
The favorite is also this year Novak Djokovic, even if Straka has other players on the bill: “I think Medvedev, Rublew, Dominic and Zverev are close. I don’t dare to say that there is one more favorite than the others ”. The course is extremely even, also in terms of shape.
In any case, world number one from Serbia is trying to win the event for the sixth time and thus catch up with record winner Roger Federer. It’s amazing that Rafael Nadal is part of the game for the tenth time, but he has never won the tournament until now. It is one of the few white spots on the Spanish success map, whose best result was two finals (2010, 2013).
Surprises cannot be ruled out
Predictions were often wrong recently, especially at the end of the ATP season, also in 2019: Thiem had to compete against Djokovic, Federer and Matteo Berrettini and therefore had two of the “big three” in the preliminary group . Thiem sensationally defeated both Superstars in a row, while “Djoker” lost to Federer in a direct fight for the semi-finals and was eliminated in the preliminary round.
For Thiem, the 2019 event was the first in which he beat two of the really big three in a tournament. He was barely denied the title then, but the “Masters” was very important to his self-confidence.
“A kind of changing of the guard”
Straka sees it that way too. “London was extremely important to him, it was, as many people there said, a kind of changing of the guard. Everyone was there, and two players of the next generation played the final in front of an incredible setting. It was an extremely important learning process for Dominic and also for Tsitsipas. It was also extremely important for self-confidence and position on the tour. “
Who he’s up against in the preliminary round this time, US Open winner Thiem will find out Thursday night in the draw. Straka’s expectations? “If he wins more than one match in the preliminary round and reaches the semi-finals or finals, it would be amazing. He’s in a good mood, he’s already beaten everyone and anything is possible. But there are some players in great shape. A Rublev, a Medvedev, Sascha Zverev, Djokovic. It is different than usual when a part was already tired or injured. That certainly doesn’t make it easier. “
