Dominic Thiem faces a difficult task on his US Open return. The Lower Austrian, who won the tournament in 2020 and had to miss 2021 due to injury, will meet number 12 seeded Pablo Carreno Busta in the first round on Monday (third game after 5:00 p.m. CEST). Thiem received a wildcard for the last Grand Slam tournament of the year after his wrist injury.
29.08.2022 13.02
Online since today, 1:02 p.m
While the 28-year-old is still far from his peak form, Carreno Busta recently celebrated the greatest success of his career with the Masters 1000 triumph in Montreal. The 7-0 record for Thiem should not hide the fact that it will be very difficult for the former world number three in the first round in New York.
It should also be an emotional return for Thiem. Two years ago he was the second Austrian to win an individual Grand Slam title at the French Open in Flushing Meadows, 25 years after Thomas Muster. At that time, Thiem turned the final against the German Alexander Zverev after a 0: 2 set deficit and a 3: 5 deficit in the fifth set in his favor.
In 2020 Thiem triumphed at the US Open, since then he has had to cope with many setbacks
Last year, the Lower Austrian had to cancel his participation because of his long-term wrist injury. Accordingly, Thiem will not return to the place where he celebrated his greatest success until this year. “Since it became clear that I can play again this year, the US Open has always been a big goal. I’m really looking forward to it,” said the former world number three before the tournament in Winston-Salem.
Unpredictable shape
Thiem only made his comeback on the hard court in Winston-Salem, before that he played his last hard court match in March 2021. The 28-year-old originally wanted to return to the hard surface in Cincinnati, but an illness slowed him down again at the beginning of August. Thiem was out of action for a week due to a respiratory infection and had to cancel his start at the Masters in the USA.
However, his comeback in Winston-Salem did not go optimally either. A fight victory over JJ Wolf (USA) was followed by a victory thanks to the resignation of Grigor Dimitrow (BUL/1), before he had no chance against 20-year-old Briton Jack Draper in the round of 16 and after 1:20 hours he was 1:6 4: 6 had to admit defeat. In any case, there is a big question mark behind his current form.
Thiem returns to the Grand Slam stage
At the US Open in New York, Thiem returns to the Grand Slam stage. The Lower Austrian will play his first five-set match against Carreno Busta since losing the first round at the French Open at the end of May 2021. In Paris he had to admit defeat to the Bolivian Hugo Dellien after a playing time of just 2:01 hours 3:6 2:6 4:6. At the beginning of the year he skipped the Australian Open, and he also canceled the tournament in Wimbledon in July.
