Dominic Thiem will join the Kooyong Classics for the Australian Open after his illness-related assignment at Doha. Then again at the side of Austria’s number one: Coach Günter Bresnik.
Günter Bresnik has postponed his trip to the southern hemisphere by two days. Actually, Bresnik wanted to set off for Australia on Friday to see his protégé Dominic Thiem – the illness of the Austrian number one, who had made it impossible to play Gael Monfils in the semi-finals in Doha, delayed the departure of the coach from Vienna.
What Bresnik von Thiem has seen so far under competition conditions has definitely met with the 56-year-old’s approval. Especially the appearance against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the round of the last eight was a very strong one – not least because the young Greek player hinted at his great potential in the match against Richard Gasquet before,”Of course, there are always one or two things to criticize in a playful way,”said Bresnik to tennisnet,”but Dominic played well and aggressively from behind. I like the dominant appearance. And the behavior against Tsitsipas was perfect.”
At the beginning Thiem, who had started in Doha as number one, eliminated the Russian Evgeny Donskoy and then Aljaz Bedene, who will be back in Slovenia these days. In none of his three matches did the Lichtenwörther have to give up a set, even if he gave several tours out of hand.
“Of course it’s bitter that Dominic has got sick right now, where it’s starting to run well,”Bresnik continues, who had flown to Tenerife with a larger training group before the start of the season, just like in previous years. There Dominic Thiem, as well as several times in autumn (and against Bedene) has indulged his second passion: football. No problem for Bresnik, not even with regard to the risk of injury:”Dominic does it like in a sheltered workshop, no professional gets too close to the other. It’s a very good exercise therapy for me.”
For Dominic Thiem, it’s at least half-serious as part of the Kooyong Classics, a preparatory tournament in Melbourne, where Bresnik will be on location from Tuesday. In addition to Thiem, Grigor Dimitrov and Marin Cilic, for example, but also two players will be looking for the final touches to the Australian Open, against which the 24-year-old has traditionally had problems: Kevin Anderson, who has just lost the final of Pune to Gilles Simon. And David Goffin, who prolonged his excellent autumn form at the Hopman Cup. In the short term, two more superstars are on their way back to Kooyong: Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
The expectations and demands on Dominic Thiem have increased with the fifth place in the world rankings, but the attitude and passion for sport are better and bigger than ever, Bresnik continued.
With the many question marks following players like Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray’s rejection, Thiems’ chances at the first Grand Slam tournament in 2018 are greater than ever. Last year he was defeated in the fourth round by Goffin, the Belgian would have to wait for Thiem in the semi-finals due to the current constellation in the rankings. An offer that the Lower Austrian will probably accept at any time.
And another pro will also be spared Dominic Thiem in the first rounds: Andrey Rublev made it to the top 32 players in the world with his move into the final in Doha, earning seed status. Rublev was at the start in Tenerife during the last few days, Günter Bresnik was impressed:”Those who were number one among the young people are always a candidate for higher tasks,”says Bresnik,”Rublev is very passionate, plays very fast from both sides, there is no hesitation. This is the future of tennis.”
On Saturday, however, the present was Gael Monfils, who defeated Rublev in the final of Doha. But this will probably not be enough to make Melbourne fall under the laws.