Dominic Thiem: First concerns about the world rankings
Dominic Thiem will skip the Australian Open at the beginning of January and only return to the ATP tour in Cordoba. This has an impact on the Austrian's world rankings.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Dec 28, 2021, 05:25 pm
It did not come as a complete surprise when Dominic Thiem canceled the Australian Open at the beginning of next year. There was too little time for the former world number three to get in shape for the first major event of the year after a cold. So the Lichtenwörther is now drawn to South America, where Thiem will start his 2022 season with four clay court events.
There it says for the Austrian "scoring is compulsory", the cancellation of the Australian Open clearly has an impact on the world ranking position of the 28-year-old. At the end of January, Thiem will probably only be ranked 50th - a problematic starting position, especially in view of the European clay court tour, which is undoubtedly one of the most important phases of the season for the Niederösterrecher.
Hard cuts on European clay court classics
In the previous year, the final cuts for the ATP Masters 1000 events in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome were sporty, in keeping with their status, and in the Principality they were still 67 in the world rankings. Looking forward to a place in the main field, the cut in Rome was already 51st. So it is not unlikely that Dominic Thiem could be dependent on a wildcard many times in the coming year. Which the organizers will most likely be happy to exhibit to the 2020 US Open winner.
Incidentally, the situation at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami, where last year only finished with 118th place, was better. However, this is likely to be due to the peculiarity of the preseason, where the event in Miami was held without the Indian Wells tournament. In 2022 the "Sunshine Double" is to be held again as usual.
Thiem with strong competition in South America
The example of Andy Murray shows that the pure start in the biggest tournaments with a poorer placement in the world rankings is not the only problem. Although the Scot was getting better and better, especially at the end of the season, it should not be enough for the former world number one for big runs in the tournaments. The draw for the veterans was usually too hard.
Even for Dominic Thiem, the competition for his return should be tough. At the ATP 250 event in Cordoba, three established clay court specialists, Diego Schwartzman, Lorenzo Sonego and Fabio Fognini, have announced their start. Thiem only had to admit defeat to Lorenzo Sonego last year at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome.
The return will probably not be an easy one for the Austrian, who has not played a professional match since summer 2021. At least the words that the former world number three addressed to his fans on Tuesday are optimistic. There the Lichtenwörther spoke of high intensity, which he could already pull through in training. And, most importantly, a symptom-free wrist.