Austrian star Dominic Thiem was set to return to action at an exhibition event named ‘Mubadala World Tennis Championships’ in Abu Dhabi. He had shown positive signs during recovery and had decided to test his wrist competitively again.
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Dominic Thiem pulls out of Mubadala exhibition event
Stars like Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, etc., are also scheduled to play the event. Just when fans were expecting to see Thiem back in action, the Austrian star took to Twitter to announce his withdrawal from the event.
“I was looking forward to making my return to competition at Abu Dhabi but I feel that I am yet not ready to compete at the highest level. It’s disappointing to not take part this year but I need to continue my preparation for the upcoming season”.
— Dominic Thiem (@ThiemDomi) December 14, 2021
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As discouraging as the tweet might seem, the Austrian is looking forward to better himself for the upcoming tennis summer in Australia. At this year’s Australian Open, Dominic Thiem lost in the fourth round to Grigor Dimitrov.
Thiem’s lackluster year came to a halt at Mallorca championships
Ever since winning his maiden US Open crown, the Austrian struggled to replicate his form and had produced disappointing outcomes on the ATP tour. His best result this year came at Madrid Masters, where he reached the semi-finals before losing to Alexander Zverev.
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In order to better his preparation for Wimbledon, Thiem chose to play the grass-court event in Mallorca. During his opening-round match against Adrian Mannarino, the Austrian injured his wrist while attempting to hit a forehand.
Thiem also decided to split up with his fitness trainer, Alex Sober. Initially, it was Sober who pushed the Austrian to continue his practice and aim for the US Open without realizing the magnitude of his injury.
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Later, Thiem revealed that the extended practice made the injury worse and he had to get the surgery done. Post breaking up with Sober, the Austrian added Jez Green as his fitness trainer.
Also read: Daniil Medvedev Explains the Financial Challenges That a Tennis Player Experiences