It is still a waiting game for Dominic Thiem concerning when he will be able to return to competitive tennis, according to his team.
The world No.6 hasn’t played his match since suffering a wrist injury during the Mallorca Championships which took place in the lead up to Wimbledon. A medical examination later revealed that the Austrian sustained a ‘detachment of the posterior sheath of the ulnar side of the right wrist.’ His diagnosis was made by Dr Angel Ruiz Cotorro who has also best known for his treatment of Rafael Nadal.
Providing an update on Thiem’s current condition, his team has told newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten that there is still no date concerning when he may return to the Tour. Although they remain confident that it will be this season.
“We don’t have a date in our sights yet because we’re following further medical advice. What is certain is that Dominic will return to the court this year,” his team said.
“The healing process is developing as expected,” they added.
The unclear timeline has cast doubt on whether Thiem will be fit in time to defend his title at the US Open which will get underway at the end of this month. Last year he came back from two sets down to defeat Alexander Zverev and win his maiden Grand Slam title. However, since then he has experienced a rollercoaster journey on the Tour. Prior to his wrist injury, Thiem has only reached the semi-finals in one of eight tournaments played this year. At the French Open, he lost in the first round for the first time in his career.
Thiem’s team says that his wrist injury is similar to the one which Nadal suffered back in 2016. The Spaniard missed two-and-a-half months of the Tour during that time. Physiotherapist Alex Stober says they are continuing to follow medical advice and are optimistic.
“Dominic trusted the doctors right from the start and will continue to follow their advice,” said Stober. “Dominic knows that he has to be patient.”
The 27-year-old is back on court training but it is understood that he is still only practising with soft tennis balls in order to minimise the strain it puts on his wrist.
The US Open will start on August 30th.
