ATP: Thiem in Indian Wells: With a fitness trainer to the big coup?

Dominic Thiem has a chance to make his first big coup at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament. The signs aren’t so bad.

Indian Wells. Actually a good plaster for Dominic Thiem. The 24-year-old travels to the USA with a quarter-final from last year, which he has to defend. At that time, the last stop was Stan Wawrinka from Switzerland, who had not yet recovered. It was really close. 6:7 in the decisive set.

In the same round Thiem had to pack his suitcases in Rio de Janeiro and Acapulco this year. No breaking a leg, but the ambitions of the sixth on the world rankings were certainly higher.

However, coach Günter Bresnik is not worried about this, especially because of the tournament victory in Buenos Aires:”The tournament victory in Buenos Aires cannot be denounced in terms of the result. Everyone knows that he can play better,”he explained at Laola1.

For example, Bresnik was able to take advantage of the defeat to eventual champions Juan Martín del Potro in Acapulco and added:”I liked the match against Del Potro very much. Apart from the tennis itself, this has been one of the best matches I’ve ever seen. In terms of appearance, that was optimal.”

This gives hope for a good time on the west coast of the United States, because:

Dominic Thiem has plans for Indian Wells. This shows at least a small development in the cast for the upcoming “Sunshine Double” of the Lichtenwörther. The Lower Austrian and Bresnik ordered fitness coach and sports scientist Michael Reinprecht to the desert state. The longer break between his retirement in Acapulco and Thiems’ first match at the Masters should be used optimally, Bresnik said.

Physically, however, his protégé is “really good”.

But what are the chances for Thiem at the first Sunshine tournament? Better than last year anyway. Many top stars are either missing or in a small depression. Rafael Nadal (hip), Wawrinka (knee/advanced training) and Novak Djokovic (rehabilitation after surgery) fall out. Final winner Grigor Dimitrov doesn’t get his tennis team together anymore, David Goffin and Jack Sock couldn’t take last year’s good form into the new year either. In addition, Kumpel Alexander Zverev is not really in top form and is busy with himself and his current condition.

For example, Thiem could become the current number three in the world, Marin Cilic. The Croatian is a weapon on the fast hardcourt and can do enormous damage with his force. But he would wait until late in the tournament. Previously there were names like Fernando Verdasco, of whom he had to take a nasty beating in Rio de Janeiro, or the two youngsters Denis Shapovalov and Andrey Rublev – of whom there was little to hear in the past.

The top seed is really dangerous. Roger Federer is currently enthroned above the tennis scene and is probably the most unpleasant opponent. It is difficult to oppose the defending champion’s self-image. In short: Nobody wants to play Federer at the moment. Especially on hard pitches. Not even Thiem. The Lower Austrian has a walk-through in the first round and then either encounters Stefanos Tsitsipas or Radu Albot.

Here’s the entire draw for Indian Wells

Nevertheless, the 24-year-old’s chances of defending last year’s 180 points in Indian Wells are not bad. If Thiem was seen on the course at the beginning of the year, there was more courage and commitment than at the end of last season. Physically – as mentioned by von Bresnik – there is nothing to complain about. The setting also fits. The hunger for success and ambition is back again and he seems to have put away the hunger for success and ambition well. The thick fur of a top professional seems to grow gradually.

“There are matches that he has lost and played well, and there are matches that he has won and played badly. Few people judge this correctly,”says Bresnik, defending his protégé. Nevertheless, it is time to land the big coup. A Masters-1000-Event is still pending and has to go into the trophy cabinet of the Lower Austrian in the coming months, if he wants to play at the top. And why not now in Indian Wells? Exactly. Why not now, anyway?

The men’s single panel in Indian Wells