‘I’m Really Happy Because It Was A Fight’

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Dominic Thiem could not have scored the win Tuesday on his ATP Tour return on the Serbia Open, however the Austrian earned an ethical victory in a two-and-a-half-hour battle towards John Millman.

“It felt good,” the previous World No. 3 mentioned after his first tour-level match since tearing his proper wrist final June. “Really, I am actually completely satisfied as a result of it was a match; it was a combat.”

Thiem produced a spirited show to be happy with in a 3-6, 6-3, 4-6 defeat towards the Aussie on centre courtroom.

“I am completely satisfied [with] how I used to be combating, how I used to be defending, how I used to be shifting.” he mentioned. “The backhand was fairly good. The forehand is just not there but, however I do know this and I am practising in order that it is getting higher.”

After making his aggressive return on the ATP Challenger Tour in March, Thiem gained a set for the primary time in his comeback towards Millman. However for now, he’s holding his expectations in examine.

“There’s not an excessive amount of to count on right here and neither within the subsequent three weeks,” he defined. “My purpose is to be in good condition in Roland Garros and right now would not change [that]. Clearly I am disillusioned; I wished to win. However nonetheless, the match itself, how lengthy it was and the depth, I am fairly completely satisfied about it.

“In fact there are issues lacking, issues that aren’t that nice in my sport. However that was fully clear additionally earlier than this match.”

What can be clear — at the least to Thiem’s opponent — is that the Austrian will quickly return to the highest of the sport. Standing at No. 5 within the ATP Rankings on the time of his harm, Thiem is now at No. 54.

“Once you get 100 per cent match, I’ll battle, bud,” a smiling Millman mentioned throughout a heat post-match handshake.

Pure honesty from @johnmillman 😅@domithiem #SerbiaOpen pic.twitter.com/W5NTAcYQe4

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 19, 2022

Having final performed on the ATP Tour practically one 12 months in the past, when COVID restrictions restricted crowds, Thiem was additionally completely satisfied to play in entrance of a packed stadium as soon as once more.

“That was nice. I am tremendous completely satisfied that the followers are again,” he mentioned of the expertise. “Earlier than my harm it was nonetheless fairly powerful with COVID. There have been many tournaments in entrance of empty stands.”

One such occasion was the 2020 US Open, the place Thiem broke via to win his first Grand Slam title.

“Right here, it is full,” he continued, “and I am tremendous pumped for the subsequent weeks to return.”