Dominic Thiem can feel it coming
MONTE CARLO, April 11
The lingering effects of a 2021 wrist injury limited Dominic Thiem’s ability to generate power last year but the former world No. 3 said he can rely on his big weapons again after making a strong start at the Monte Carlo Masters.
Thiem broke the Grand Slam stranglehold of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic by winning the 2020 US Open but the injury sidelined him for months and other niggles saw him slip down the rankings to No. 352 last June.
After a first-round exit at the Australian Open in January, and disappointing performances in the tournaments that followed, Thiem made the quarterfinals of the Estoril Open and beat Richard Gasquet 6-1 6-4 in his opener here.
“Some positive signs happened already in Estoril and today (Monday), I had the feeling that I was doing from time to time good damage with both forehand and backhand,” said Thiem, who next plays Holger Rune. “The power wasn’t there last year even when I started to win matches and played better. In the inner season the power wasn’t there yet. Also maybe not in the beginning of the year. In the last month it’s coming back, especially in practice. The shots are there, the power is there like before.” — Reuters
