Dominic Thiem Looks To Upset Stefanos Tsitsipas In Vienna | ATP Tour

Any time Dominic Thiem steps on court docket on the Erste Bank Open, the house crowd raises the amount contained in the Wiener Stadthalle. That raucous ambiance might hit new highs on Tuesday in Vienna, nevertheless, when the Austrian favorite takes on Stefanos Tsitsipas in a blockbuster first-round conflict on the ATP 500.

“There are some sports activities the place you play dwelling video games each second week and everyone’s telling you concerning the benefits, about how a lot better you play at dwelling,” Thiem instructed ATPTour.com on Sunday in Vienna. “And it’s like that, however as a tennis participant, as an Austrian particularly, you solely have it two or 3 times a yr. I all the time find it irresistible. The gang provides me unbelievable vitality.”

A conflict between two former World No. 3s can be a much-anticipated opening spherical irrespective of when or the place it takes place. The 2 Lexus ATP Head2Head conferences between Thiem and Tsitsipas which have taken place this yr add an additional dimension to their Vienna conflict.

The 17-time tour-level champion Thiem, working laborious to rediscover his mojo in opposition to the world’s finest after a critical wrist damage he suffered in mid-2021, pushed Tsitsipas to deciding-set tie-breaks in Madrid and at Wimbledon this yr. On every event it was the Greek who finally prevailed, and Thiem is aware of the margins may nicely be high quality as soon as once more on Tuesday night in Vienna.

“I assume the one factor which I am fascinated with is that after we’re each enjoying nicely, the probabilities are excessive that we have now one other very shut and tight match,” stated Thiem, who’s 5-5 total in his rivalry with Tsitsipas. “I hope so as a result of that will imply that we’re enjoying nicely or that I am enjoying nicely. It will imply an important match for the group as nicely.

“We had two matches this yr, and twice it ended up being a deciding tie-break, in addition to on the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals, which was on an analogous floor as nicely, and indoors. Once more, it was a deciding tie-break. It will be nice, clearly, if it might be one other match like this, however with a special consequence.”

Not like in Madrid and at Wimbledon, nevertheless, Thiem might have a secret weapon to assist him recover from the road on Tuesday in opposition to Tsitsipas. He doesn’t need to look again far to recollect the facility of the Vienna crowd, which roared him to a outstanding first-round triumph after he saved two match factors in opposition to Tommy Paul a yr in the past. Having missed the 2021 version of the match as a part of his nine-month absence due his wrist damage, that second nonetheless stands out for the Austrian.

“That was a reminder of what I am enjoying for and what I am working laborious for,” stated Thiem. “Not solely [during my] comeback, but when I look again at particular matches in my complete profession, this one is up there, 100 per cent.

“Actually, I used to be the more severe participant the entire match, however with this superb assist from the group and with nice luck and nice preventing spirit, I used to be one way or the other in a position to win it and that was particular. That is why it is going to all the time be up there someplace once I look again on particular matches.”

This yr, Thiem arrived in Vienna with a 17-21 tour-level report for the season, a tally which features a championship-match run on the solely different Austrian ATP Tour occasion in Kitzbühel, and three different ATP 250 quarter-final appearances. Presently at No. 99 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Thiem’s comparatively average yr has not dampened his need to push for a return to the higher echelons of the sport. For him, it isn’t a query of regaining his earlier degree, however with the ability to produce it typically sufficient.

“I had some constructive weeks, like Kitzbühel, and a few nice matches as nicely, for instance in opposition to Stef at Wimbledon or the US Open, the place I performed nicely,” recalled Thiem. “So there have been some good weeks and a few good matches, however I used to be not in a position to do it typically sufficient and that is why my rating is the place it’s. It is not satisfying for me, and I’ve to play nicely, extra constantly, to stand up once more. That is the objective for the final three weeks and clearly additionally for the subsequent yr.

“For me it’s fairly clear [I’m lacking] consistency, as a result of I had some good weeks. If I’d have been in a position to repeat them extra typically, then my rating can be means increased, however I used to be not. I assume that is that is the important thing level. That is what I used to be in a position to do earlier than the damage, once I was very excessive within the rankings, and that is the objective, to get that again.”