The 25-year-old fourth in the world rankings from Lichtenwörth underwent another examination on Saturday after his arrival from Cincinnati in New York. The conclusion: He would like to start light training on Monday.
“I arrived in New York yesterday, Saturday, and immediately underwent a further examination by a specialist. According to the doctor, it is a viral infection,” Thiem explained on Sunday via his management. You need about two weeks to be fully there again. “So I’m on the right track and that means that I can start again with light training from Monday. If everything goes according to plan, it looks good that I’m fit again for the first round of the US Open.”
The draw for the Grand Slam tournament will take place on Thursday (from 6:00 p.m. CEST), a little later you will know whether Thiem will possibly get an extra day. The 14-time tournament winner, who last won his first home tournament in Kitzbühel, had the same problems a year ago. He hopes that he will manage it in a similar way to 2018. “I did it last year and will do it again this year,” he said in Cincinnati.
Last year Thiem made it to the quarter-finals of the last year’s major. Thiem manager Herwig Straka is relieved, but he did not doubt the appearance of his protégé. “I would say it was never questionable and it is even less now,” said Straka to the APA. “Still, it’s obviously not ideal preparation,” he added.
– .