“Can’t Really Agree With That”: Dominic Thiem Refuses to Blame Pandemic for Tennis Struggles

Owing to a wrist injury, World No.5 Dominic Thiem, unfortunately, pulled out of the Wimbledon Championships and Tokyo Olympic Games. Having injured himself at the Mallorca Open earlier in June, he will be out for five weeks in order to heal from the injury. However, the Austrian star is enjoying his life outside the court.

Life outside tennis for Dominic Thiem

Being the brand ambassador for the energy drinks company, Dominic Thiem attended the Styrian Grand Prix, Red Bull F1’s home race, in Austria last Sunday with his brother, Moritz.

While he is having fun on his leave from the sport, he understandably wants to return soon and is thus taking good care of his injury. He is flying to Barcelona for therapy with doctor Angel Ruiz Cotorro.

“That is of course a bit of a delicate injury. I have to make sure that I let it heal properly. If I take care of the rail for five weeks and really do nothing, then that should be done.

“I’m far from the first to have this. If you pay attention, there shouldn’t be anything in the episode,” said Thiem in an interview with O3. (Translated via Google Translate)

Thiem on his year and comeback after injury

The Austrian has not had a good year so far, as the facts and stats suggest. However, he thinks otherwise. With a 9-9 record this year, Thiem’s best performance was a semifinal finish at the Madrid Open. Consequently, he lost to Alexander Zverev in the semifinals of the Madrid Open, 3-6, 4-6.

“I can’t really agree with that. Of course, the results were really bad for me and a lot of things didn’t fit. But in the last few years I’ve also been very lucky, had a lot of unbelievable matches and tournaments,” said Thiem.

With the Tokyo Olympics coming up later this month, Thiem is taking precautions for his injured wrist. The Austrian has had to cancel a few tournaments this year as a result of injury.

“Because I have the splint and the injury is well documented in tennis players, I was told exactly what I had to do. That made things easier. It won’t be easy to come back. My goal is simply to be in top shape after five weeks and then to be able to start tennis again easily. I can play tennis so well that I can come back,” said Thiem.

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Dominic has withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympic Games this year in order to focus on his comeback for the US Open in August. The Austrian will defending his title from 2020, assuming he is fit to play by then, that is.

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