Defending Champion Dominic Thiem says, “I’m really disappointed!” after being defeated by Andrey Rublev at Vienna Open
In a spectacular display of tennis yesterday, Andrey Rublev vanquished the defending champion, Dominic Thiem, in straight sets. The duo has had the best year of their career so far. This year, Thiem laid claim to his maiden Grand Slam title at the U.S Open. On the other hand, Rublev is en route to take his tally of titles to 5 in Vienna.
Thiem, the 2nd seed of the tournament was ousted 7-6(5), 6-2 in the quarter-final by Rublev. The duo were incredibly competitive in the first set. However, as the 2nd set progressed, it shifted Thiem’s level of investment in the game. The Austrian seemed to be at odds with something. He was bothered by his foot which made it immensely difficult for him to move around the court. At every changeover, Thiem tried to tend to his foot injury but continued to remain in pain throughout the match.
This injury restricted his movement, giving way to some exceptionally short points. Despite Thiem’s unfortunate physical condition, nothing can be taken away from Andrey Rublev’s sorcery on the court.
Dominic Thiem admits to having issues since the start of the tournament
Coming into his match against Rublev, Thiem was on an 11-match winning streak in Austria that dated back to 2019. However, foot blisters along with Rublev’s relentless prowess made matters impossible for Thiem to continue his dream run.
In his post-match interview, Dominic elaborated on the situation with his foot. The top-ranked Austrian disclosed that he had been having physical issues lately. “I’m very disappointed. I have had problems since the 1st round,” he admitted.
Further, Dominic elaborated on the persistent problem he’s faced with his foot. The Austrian stated that indoor-court conditions, like in the Vienna Open, increased his susceptibility to blisters. According to him, the moisture-laden atmosphere on indoor courts also tends to slow down the healing process.
The 27-year-old also revealed that the indoor-court season remains a challenge for him. He noted that using the right shoes and socks have aided him, but only to some extent. He continued, “The shoes have improved massively over the years and are perfect right now, but the indoor season is still very tough for me.”
The Paris Masters will commence in a few days. Thiem was initially slated to appear in the same. Unfortunately, he voiced his concerns and stated that he wasn’t sure that he’ll make it to Paris this year. He candidly said, “I’m not sure whether I’ll play in Paris or not. I’ll decide today or tomorrow.”
If Thiem decides to not contend in Paris, he’ll be seen in action at the ATP tour finals before calling it a season.
Chhavi Jindal
(404 Articles Published)