FILE PHOTO: Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021 Austria’s Dominic Thiem throughout his fourth spherical match in opposition to Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov REUTERS/Jaimi Pleasure
Dominic Thiem mentioned Wednesday that he plans to return to aggressive tennis in Australia in January after canceling his participation at an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi this week.
“The ATP Cup is certainly the objective now. I hope I will play there… I’m optimistic,” the 2020 US Open champion instructed reporters.
The 28-year-old mentioned his wrist had absolutely healed from an harm — that had stored him off the court docket since August — however he had but to beat a psychological block when he’s hitting the ball.
“The entire course of goes in line with plan. I’m ache free. However I lag behind in coaching. I solely go on the court docket after I can do 100% of the forehand, and I’m presently at 80,” he mentioned.
The Austrian mentioned he was presently again to coaching a number of hours a day however has not but performed in opposition to any of his teammates, main him to name off competing at Mubadala World Tennis Championship this week.
Thiem mentioned he would fly from Abu Dhabi to Sydney later this month.
After the ATP Cup, Thiem plans to compete within the first Grand Slam of 2022 on the Australian Open.
On the ATP Cup in Sydney, he’s scheduled to play the opening match in opposition to defending champion and world quantity two Daniil Medvedev on January 2.
Thiem, whose world rating has dropped to fifteenth from third in 2020, mentioned he anticipated to should battle onerous as soon as he returns.
“It would definitely be a rocky manner again, the extent may be very excessive. However I additionally needed to work my manner up in my youthful years, and I additionally made it again then,” he mentioned.
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