French Open: Dominic Thiem before the final – “A match like any other

Dominic Thiem is in the final of the French Open for the first time. After his success against Marco Cecchinato, the Austrian was pleased but not euphoric at the press conference.

By Jens Huiber from Paris

Marco Cecchinato was in a hurry after his defeat against Domiic Thiem: Just a few minutes before the advertised time, the Italian had come to the Main Interview Room to hold court again after a run that the 25-year-old had not thought possible, taking him to the semi-finals of the French Open 2018.

He has two movements at the same level as Thiem, according to Cecchinato’s factually correct analysis. That the entire stadium stood behind him, these impressions, on the other hand, were not shared by all observers of the events on the Court Philippe Chatrier.

This remains unimportant for the final assessment, Marco Cecchinato will be listed in the top 30 of the ATP world rankings from Monday.

Dominic Thiem has long outgrown this claim. In the international part of the press conference, the realization manifested itself that the four weeks of basic training that Thiem enjoyed with the Austrian Armed Forces was not helpful in preparing for the 2015 tennis year. Thiem formulated this in somewhat other words, the persistent demand of a reporter from the Anglican hemisphere was thus clearly and unambiguously answered.

A few warm words to Italy, with Cecchinato, Matteo Berrettini and of course Fabio Fognini the Azzurri are well positioned.

It will be a match like any other on Sunday, on a larger scale of course. He expects Rafael Nadal that anything else would surprise Thiem.

Nadal won in Monte Carlo when Thiem did not play aggressive enough according to his coach Günter Bresnik. In Madrid Thiem finished the winning streak of the record champion. The conditions in Roland Garros are of course not comparable to those in the Spanish capital.

However, this will have to be compared in detail: Preparing for the biggest match in Dominic Thiem’s career. Eating, sleeping, training, eating, sleeping. That’s how Thiem held it the last days, that’s how it will be on Friday evening and Saturday. Because there would be no reason to celebrate yet.