“Felt in Top Shape”: Dominic Thiem Delivers Ominous Warning Ahead of Australian Open 2021

Austrian tennis star Dominic Thiem has said that he has worked himself into top shape for the arduous Australian summer swing. Considering the challenging circumstances around the novel coronavirus pandemic, he has put in the best preparation and practice for the ATP Cup and, more importantly, the Australian Open.

Dominic Thiem says he is well-rested and trained ahead of the Australian summer

In an interview with a German publication, the reigning US Open champion said though he did his pre-season training back in the cool climes of his homeland, he feels that his body is ready to survive the rigors of the Australian summer.

On his preparation ahead of the swing Down Under in previous years, Thiem said, “In the last eight or nine years, I have always been warm throughout December.”

The Austrian added that since he took a longer vacation this year; he got enough rest and still had ample time to reach Australia well ahead of the tournament.

“Simply because I had a longer vacation and a really long time (to rest and recover), I was here (Australia) right on time,” Thiem said.

Thiem will be itching to go one step further at the Australian Open

Though the men’s tennis tour last year was crippled and curtailed by the pandemic, Thiem said he did not cut down on the number of hours that he spent with his physio and coach, preparing for the new season in the same way as head in 2019. And it was because of the long hours he put in ahead of the 2020 season that he “started in great shape in Australia”.

Thiem said even before he left for Australia last year, he felt good physically and was able to sustain his fitness till the end of the season.

“Especially from mid-2019 and throughout 2020, I felt in top shape in all areas such as endurance and speed. We made sure that it stays that way,” the Austrian said.

(Quotes have been translated via Google)

Leveraging his prime fitness and form ahead of the 2020 Australian summer, Thiem played himself into his third Grand Slam final, at Melbourne Park, before losing to 17-time Majors champion Novak Djokovic. However, he made up for his disappointment later in the year at the Flushing Meadows, defeating German Alexander Zverev to break his Grand Slam jinx.

Read More: “Winners will be new faces again”: Dominic Thiem Confident of Breaking Big 3’s Dominance in 2021

This time, however, he will be itching to go one step further at the year’s first Grand Slam.