‘The Improvement Is There Every Single Day’

Former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem feels that he’s able to step up his progress when he competes in simply his second tour-level occasion of the season this coming week on the Millennium Estoril Open.

The Austrian suffered a tear in his proper wrist final June, which stored him out for the remainder of 2021. However he returned to the ATP Tour on the Serbia Open in Belgrade final week, displaying indicators of promise throughout his defeat to Australian John Millman in his opening match.

“I really feel significantly better already than Belgrade. The advance is there each single day,” Thiem mentioned. “In observe factors I’m nonetheless having troubles — not with the wrist, the wrist is okay additionally in factors — however [in] all of the motion, all of the response, all of the anticipation, I’m nonetheless not 100 per cent but. It’ll take many extra matches till I’m again on the high degree there. So I’m not feeling able to profitable this event.

“However each match is tremendous necessary for me now. I’m going to strive my finest, I’m going to struggle 100 per cent from the primary to the final level, even once I’m not enjoying my finest tennis, which may occur. And that’s it. I’ve low expectations this week and likewise the following ones to return. However clearly I’m attempting all the things to win and I’m going to see what comes out on the finish.”

Whereas the 28-year-old understands that it’ll take time to return to his finest, he’s excited to have the ability to compete and prepare with these on the high of the sport as soon as once more as he appears to construct his health heading in the direction of Roland Garros in Might.

“After all it’s the matches which I want, but additionally it’s the observe periods with high gamers and people you possibly can solely get [at] the tournaments,” Thiem mentioned. “I believe that they’re as necessary to get used to the tempo once more, to get used to the quick actions once more, anticipation, response, that’s so necessary.

“The primary short-term purpose to be in a good form once more is the French Open. I’m positively not going to be a favorite there, however possibly I can win some matches there and if I face a high opponent, possibly I may give him a tough match. That’s the short-term purpose. To make large issues, I believe I’m going to have to attend till the second a part of the season.”

Thiem has not earned a tour-level win since Might 2021, when he defeated Marton Fucsovics in Rome. The 2020 US Open champ can be keen to alter that file when he faces Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi in his opening match on the ATP 250 clay-court occasion.

Thiem, who additionally performed at an ATP Challenger Tour occasion in Marbella in March, has produced a number of the finest tennis of his profession on clay, clinching 10 of his 17 tour-level titles on the floor. The Austrian will make his debut in Estoril this week after accepting a wild card.

“I’ve solely been as soon as on this nation earlier than,” Thiem mentioned when discussing his reasoning for taking part in in Estoril. “After I’m touring all world wide I wish to go to all of the international locations, all of the cities, so it was straightforward to decide on this event.”

from Tennis – ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/TmZpNLf