Thiem confident of turning things around

New York, August 31

Dominic Thiem had a nightmarish start to his US Open preparations when he was bundled out in his first match of the Western & Southern Open last week but the world No. 3 is confident he can turn things around in time for the Grand Slam. The Austrian is seeded second at Flushing Meadows in the absence of Rafa Nadal and is expected to pose the strongest challenge for top-ranked Novak Djokovic, who beat Thiem in a five-set thriller in this year’s Australian Open final.

Thiem, however, managed to win just three games in his second-round match against Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic at the Western & Southern Open after getting a first-round bye. “Things like that, matches like that, are happening. I didn’t have my best day. That’s how that result came,” he said. “I know about my strength. I know things can change very quickly. Well, I hope that I do better at the Open.”

Thiem, who was also a finalist at the last two French Opens, begins his US Open campaign tomorrow against Spaniard Jaume Munar. — Reuters

VONDROUSOVA FIRST TO ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND

Czech Republic’s 12th seed Marketa Vondrousova became the first player to win a match at the US Open this year after she beat Greet Minnen 6-1 6-4. Vondrousova, 21, broke her Belgian opponent four times and fired 16 winners to wrap up the match in just 63 minutes to advance to the second round.