Dominic Thiem given Australian Open 2023 wild card as Austrian's comeback from wrist injury continues

ByRob Hemingway

Published 30/12/2022 at 09:37 GMT

Dominic Thiem reached the final of the Australian Open in 2020, taking the eventual winner Novak Djokovic to five sets, and it's that form that he will be looking to recapture next month after being awarded a wild card for the opening Grand Slam of the year in Melbourne. Thiem showed signs of a genuine resurgence in 2022, taking his ranking from outside 350 to its current position of 102.

Dominic Thiem has been given a wild card for the Australian Open as the Austrian's gradual comeback from his wrist injury continues.

Thiem, who first suffered the problem in June 2021, has taken the long and winding road to come back to the top echelons of the game that he so decorated, particularly in 2020, when he reached the final of the Australian Open - losing to Novak Djokovic in five sets - and won the US Open.

Thiem showed shoots of a resurgence in 2022, taking his ranking from outside the top 350 to 102 by the end of the year.

ATP Estoril

Thiem secures first ATP Tour win of season in Estoril to set up Gasquet clash

01/04/2024 at 21:46

He began the year by losing in the first round at seven tournaments in a row, but managed 42 matches by the end of the campaign, finishing with a positive win-loss record of 23-19 and recording victories over the likes of Hubert Hurkacz, Roberto Bautista Agut and Grigor Dimitrov.

Speaking back in October, Thiem's fitness trainer Jez Green told Tennishead: "I think we’ll start seeing the real, full-on, vintage Dominic Thiem soon.

"He now needs to play matches and needs 25 high-level matches to get back to the top and I think he’s ready for it.

"He’s fresh, he’s ready, he’s fit and he’s pain-free. With another really big training block in November and December, I think he will be at another level by Australia.

"He will have full power and be even stronger, fitter, and faster than ever before.

• ‘You can’t forget those events’ – Djokovic opens up on deportation ordeal
• Who's playing the 2023 Australian Open and who's missing out?

"He can have five more years left in tennis, so he has very good possibilities.

"Make no mistake, Novak and Rafa [Nadal] are not going to want to see a fully fit Dominic Thiem back!"

Dominic Thiem & Novak Djokovic

Image credit: Getty Images

Other male players to be awarded wild cards to the Melbourne showpiece are Luca Van Assche and Christopher Eubanks, while in the women's draw, Taylor Townsend and Diane Parry have been given direct entry too.

Organisers added that four more wild cards - two each for the men and women - are set to be announced next week.

- - -

Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk

Tennis

Thiem sees 2024 as 'last chance' to rediscover best level as he mulls future

01/02/2024 at 07:44

Australian Open

'I didn’t want to fail mentally' - FAA 'relieved' to edge five-set battle with Thiem

15/01/2024 at 16:39

Australian Open

'Why would you do that?' - Thiem misses 'crazy' tweener at key moment

15/01/2024 at 15:59