There are athletes who are inspired by success. Novak Djokovic is one of those people who never gets enough, who after every tournament win immediately craves the next one. And then there are the others who find it difficult to digest a triumph. Who are overwhelmed by success, fall deep into the motivation hole and try with increasing desperation to free themselves from it. One such guy is Dominic Thiem. Maybe he isn’t anymore.
When the Austrian raised his arms in the air on Monday afternoon New York local time, he seemed to have arrived back in the perfect tennis world. Three years after his US Open triumph, when he made up a 2-0 set deficit in the final against Alexander Zverev, Thiem had finally put the boring and protracted self-doubt behind him and won another tennis match in New York.
In addition, the 6: 3, 6: 2, 6: 4 against the Kazakh Alexander Bublik, which was surprising in its clarity, was the first match win in a Grand Slam tournament after six unsuccessful attempts. He had to overcome mental problems, this was “a good way for me,” said Thiem: “I learned a lot, even if it wasn’t easy from a sporting point of view.”
“Not the same job anymore”
The wrist operation, which he had to endure in the meantime, was the lesser evil. The larger one occurred as soon as he had to line up for a match. “I wasn’t doing the same job as before the injury.” With the help of his new coach, Germany’s Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh, the spirit became willing again and the forehand strong again. At the beginning of August, Thiem reached the final in Kitzbühel, he is 81st in the world rankings and thus higher than he has been since April 2022.
Beyond the breakthrough, Thiem’s New York first-round win had a special taste. On the one hand, because the Austrian suffered from an inflammation of the gastric mucosa and had to vomit. Above all, however, because Bublik, who constantly oscillates between genius and madness, once again made a failure. Translated into housebreaking, the world number 27 cursed that he was tired of helping disabled guys with their careers.
Thomas Klemm, New York Published/Updated: Recommendations: 5 Thomas Klemm, New York Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 2 Thomas Klemm, New York Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 23
Thiem, who meets American Bryan Shelton in the second round on Wednesday, did not want to comment. He wants to let actions speak: “I have the feeling that there is still a big hit.” Thiem will be 30 years old on Sunday. Too young to retire as New York 2020’s One Slam Wonder.
