Created on March 30, 2023 | 20:30
Reading time: 2 mins
Thiem and Vettel at a press conference on Thursday
Photo:
APA/EVA MANHART
Dominic Thiem is currently in Austria after the first quarter of the year, which has been completely screwed up so far. The 29-year-old ex-US Open winner is training in Traiskirchen for the upcoming start of the European clay court season, which he will start next week at the ATP 250 tournament in Estoril. Thiem hopes that after the last four first-round defeats en suite or a record of only one win in ten matches, he will manage the turnaround.
“A few wins would be very important, or a win that the switch would be flipped again,” said Thiem on ORF Kurzsport. “There were four first-round defeats in a row, which doesn’t help for self-confidence. That’s why I’m making sure that I start with it next week in Portugal and get back into positive territory from the series of defeats,” explained the Lichtenwörther.
After Estoril, he will have to qualify at the Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo as currently 106th in the ATP ranking. It was only announced on Tuesday that he would compete in the ATP Challenger in Mauthausen instead of the Masters 1000 in Rome. Points are very important for the four-time major finalist if he wants to be in the main competition at the French Open without qualifying. “I still have time next week and the week after next, so basically two more chances. I have to score points there,” Thiem knows.
