While the rest of the tennis elite are taking a break before the French Open, Dominic Thiem and Roger Federer are still looking for the finishing touches.
Dominic Thiem collected match practice at the two clay court classics in Madrid, where he reached the semi-finals, and Rome already after his tennis break. However, the 27-year-old wants to have more games in his legs at the next highlight of the season, the French Open (from May 30th). The last 16 defeat in Italy against local hero Lorenzo Sonego was correspondingly bitter. “All in all, it was a very, very mixed day. Now relax a bit and focus on the next two tournaments,” said the Lower Austrian after the game.
In search of his absolute top form on the red ashes, the world number four is not taking a two-week break, but traveled to France on Saturday. The ATP250 in Lyon is on the program from Monday, but it is also very well staffed. In addition to Austria’s athlete of the year, Diego Schwartzman will also compete there. Against the Argentine, Thiem was eliminated from the French Open last year. With Matteo Berrettini, David Goffin, Gael Monfils and Jannik Sinner there are other big names in the field of participants.
Lyon as a good omen?
Our tennis ace already made a detour to Lyon in 2018 before the French Open, at that time he also won the tournament title and then moved into the final in Paris. He wants to go there again this year, but the Lichtenwörther can also hope for a lucky draw. Because the Russian Daniil Medvedev is in second place in the world rankings, Thiem will definitely avoid a semi-final duel against Rafael Nadal and will meet the record winner in the French capital in the final at the earliest. Ideally, he could also avoid a duel with world number one Novak Djokovic by then. Unless Thiem is drawn in one half of the tournament with Mewedew, who is absolutely uncomfortable on clay this year.
Federer celebrates comeback at home event
Oldie Roger Federer will also return to the ATP tour in Geneva next week, since his comeback after a break of more than a year, the Swiss only played in Dubai in March. After a bye, the top seeded Swiss will meet the Australian Jordan Thompson or the Spaniard Pablo Andujar at the dress rehearsal for the French Open.
Federer has already been vaccinated against Corona, but he and his family should continue to be very vigilant in the pandemic. Therefore, the 39-year-old is still unsure whether he will take part in the Olympics in Tokyo. “I would love to play and win a medal for Switzerland,” said Federer in Geneva. “But if it doesn’t work because of the situation, I would be the first to understand,” the 2008 Olympic champion referred to the situation around the corona pandemic in doubles. Like the 20-time Grand Slam winner, other aces such as Spaniard Rafael Nadal and American Serena Williams have shown themselves unsure whether they should take part in the games under the current circumstances.
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