Coach Günter Bresnik gave the all-clear: Nothing seems to stand in the way of Dominic Thiem’s start at the US Open (starting Monday) after a cured virus illness. The French Open finalist even trained with former champion John McEnroe.
Even as a ball boy, the good “Big Mac” was not too bad. When the felt ball accidentally rolled onto the side court during training with Dominic Thiem, McEnroe sprinted as in his best times. The atmosphere was exuberant during the exchange of blows between Thiem and the US icon, about whom the Kronen-Zeitung reported exclusively.
A perfect working atmosphere certainly prevailed because the Austrian’s start at the fourth and last Grand Slam tournament of the year no longer seemed to be endangered. “You can’t wipe out two weeks now, that’s for sure. But he is really into it, trains well and has already played sets”, explained coach Günter Bresnik of APA and added with satisfaction and relief: “I have to say it is much, much better than in the boldest expectations.
Thiem is ranked ninth at the US Open. The draw will take place on Thursday afternoon local time (20.00 CEST) in Manhattan. Most recently, a persistent virus had slowed down the 24-year-old for almost 14 days. The “Dominator” had to cancel his participation in the Masters-Hardplatzturnier in Cincinnati.
Since his final defeat in Paris against clay court king Rafael Nadal, Thiem has only won three matches. He failed in his opening games in Wimbledon, Kitzbühel and Toronto. Not least because the body (shoulder, virus) did not play along as well as usual. With a weak performance in the Big Apple, the US Open Round of 16 finalist from 2017 could even face the imminent fall from the top ten.
Since Sunday, Thiem has trained a few times at the tennis academy on Randall’s Island just outside New York – and no less than McEnroe, the owner of the facility, jumped in as a sparring partner. According to the Kronen-Zeitung, the four-time Flushing Meadows Champ asked the Paris finalist to push the volleys “firmly” away from the net. “And pull out all the balls from the half court – you have all the weapons,” cried 59-year-old McEnroe to the Lower Austrian.