Dominic Thiem survived the first round of the Challenger in Bratislava. The week is a good chance to form the basis for the end of the season.
by Daniel Hofmann
last edited: October 10, 2023, 10:27 p.m
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Dominic Thiem can’t just win one title in Bratislava.
In the opening game against Ukrainian Vitaly Sachko, the relevance of the Challenger in Bratislava quickly became clear. Dominic Thiem can gain playing experience and, above all, self-confidence at the tournament, which promises the winner 125 world ranking points.
Because even if the former Grand Slam champion is in first place at the tournament in Slovakia, it won’t be a sure-fire success. This was also shown in the first round match against the 161 in the ATP ranking. Overall, Thiem was the better player and deserved to be the winner. However, his counterpart repeatedly put the Austrian in dangerous situations. For example, when the score was 5:6 and 0:30 in the first set. Thiem then served strongly and turned the serve game around. Moments that are good for your own feelings and bring the knowledge that solutions are available.
Dominic Thiem is not obliged to win the title
When you look closely at the basic skills, Dominic Thiem is certainly the best player in draw. Nevertheless, it should not automatically be considered a failure if the title is not determined at the end of the week. Collecting match wins and basic game practice is far more important in Dominic Thiem’s current phase. Also to lay a foundation for the tasks to come this year.
At the tournaments in Antwerp and Vienna, the opponents will be able to show significantly different rankings. It would be all the more important to have Dominic Thiem on the court who believes in his own abilities.
The individual tableau in Bratislava
2023-10-11 06:00:00
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