‘Exhausted’ Dominic Thiem Ends Season After Vienna Defeat - UBITENNIS

‘Exhausted’ Dominic Thiem Ends Season After Vienna Defeat

The former world No.3 explains why he will not be playing in the final Masters 1000 event of 2022.

By Adam Addicott
3 Min Read
Dominic Thiem; e-motion/Bildagentur Zolles KG/Martin Steiger, 27.10.2022
Die Fotos sind zur redaktionellen Verwendung für die mediale Ankündigung bzw. Berichterstattung über die Erste Bank Open 2022 in der Erste Bank Wiener Stadthalle freigegeben und stehen unter Angabe der Quelle und Urheberrechte (© e-motion/Bildagentur Zolles KG/Martin Steiger) ausschließlich für diesen Zweck honorarfrei zur Verfügung. The pictures have been approved for editorial use and are available free of charge if they are used for announcements and coverage in the press and media for the „Erste Bank Open 2022“ at the Erste Bank Wiener Stadthalle, quoting the source and copyright (© e-motion/Bildagentur Zolles KG/Martin Steiger).

Dominic Thiem has confirmed that he will not play in the upcoming Paris Masters and instead will focus on his off-season training heading into next year. 

The former US Open champion played his final match of 2022 at the Vienna Open on Thursday where he lost 6-3, 6-3, to Daniil Medvedev. Thiem started his return to the Tour in March following a wrist injury which sidelined him from action for months. He has won 18 out of 34 matches played this year with his best results being runs to the semi-finals of three tournaments. Two of which were this month in Antwerp and Gijon, as well as the Gstaad Open back in July.

Thiem had received a wildcard to play the qualifying event in Paris this weekend but has declined the invitation. Part of his decision to do so was due to a correction made by the ATP regarding his points tally which places him at world No.101. A position that seals his automatic entry in the Australian Open main draw in January.  

“It’s been exhausting the last few weeks,” Kleine Zeitung Quoted Thiem as telling reporters. “I’ve played a lot since July. That’s why the season is over for me. Also because I got good news from the ATP. I have 550 points, the Australian Open should go there. If I can do it, it doesn’t matter, if I finish (the year) in the top 100.”

During his off-season training, the 29-year-old confirmed that he will play a series of exhibition matches. Some of which will be the Diriyah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia which has a prize money pool of $3M. The Austrian states that it is important he continues competing against the top players in the world. Medvedev, Gael Monfils and Alexander Zverev will also be playing in Saudi Arabia. 

“I will put full focus on the preparation so that I will be fully ready for early 2023,” he said. 
“At the beginning of December, I will fly to the Emirates, do my preparations there and from there to Australia.”

Thiem’s desire to continue playing against the best in the world is partly driven by his own criticism of his recent performance against Medvedev this week. 

“I don’t get enough break chances against top players,” he said. “Then I’m under so much pressure when I serve that it’s no longer enough.”

Thiem, who has won 17 ATP titles, is on course to end the season outside the top 100 for the first time since 2013. 

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