Austria’s tennis star not only misses Wimbledon because of his wrist injury. The worst setback in its crisis year.
Two days later than initially expected, Dominic Thiem has the exact diagnosis of his wrist injury. A “replacement of the posterior capsule apparatus” on the flapping arm forces Austria’s tennis star to take a break of at least several weeks, as he announced on Thursday evening. In addition to Wimbledon, the 27-year-old will also miss the European summer clay court season in Hamburg, Gstaad and Kitzbühel.
Two days after giving up at the lawn tournament in Mallorca, where he felt a “crack” from a forehand strike, this diagnosis is bad news for Thiem in a year marked by bankruptcies, bad luck and mishaps. This means even the most severe setback on the way back to old strength. “I will do everything the doctors advise me to do and give everything I can to be able to play again as soon as possible,” said the fifth in the world. Thiem had himself examined in Barcelona by Ángel Ruiz Cotorro, Rafael Nadal’s medical examiner. Initially there was talk of a tear in the tendon sheath and a ten-day break. But the final diagnosis hits Thiem much harder.
The fifth in the world rankings will have to wear a splint for five weeks, only then will he “progressively begin with specific, functional exercises to rebuild his muscle strength and mobility in the wrist”. Realistically speaking, that doesn’t sound like Thiem can tackle the hard court season that begins at the beginning of August. At the latest in Toronto, Cincinnati and as defending champion at the US Open, Thiem wanted to be back to his old strength. A goal that he will have to tick off this year after his failures and motivation problems. “I am determined to come back even stronger,” says Thiem fiercely. When that will be is still in the stars.
Wimbledon starts on Monday without the Austrian and with a big favorite: Novak Djoković. While the Serb is currently continuing his winning streak after his triumph at the French Open in Mallorca, albeit only in doubles (in the semifinals against Oliver Marach), no serious challenger for the most prestigious tournament seems in sight. Roger Federer also looks for his form on grass. For Andy Murray the start is already a success and Rafael Nadal is absent at all. The Serbs lose their eternal rivals. The young generation is once again asked to stop number one in the world.
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