‘That’s crazy’ - Dominic Thiem gets unnecessary tweener all wrong at key moment against Felix Auger-Aliassime

ByRichard Newman

Updated 15/01/2024 at 15:59 GMT

Former British No. 1 Jo Durie questioned Dominic Thiem’s shot selection when he missed a ‘tweener’ in his Australian Open match with Felix Auger-Aliassime. “Why would you do that? You can play an ordinary shot,” said the two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist, before describing it as “crazy” as Thiem seemingly had time to run around the ball. Thiem dropped serve the next point.

Dominic Thiem caused surprise in the Eurosport commentary booth as he hit a "crazy" tweener at a key moment during his Australian Open first-round match against Felix Auger-Aliassime.

With Thiem serving for the fourth set to force a decider, the former US Open champion attempted a shot through his legs at 30-30, when there seemed time to reposition himself for a standard shot.

The 30-year-old hit the ball into the net, and Auger-Aliassime won the next point to break back and make it 5-5.

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And Thiem's shot selection was questioned by former British No. 1 Jo Durie who was commentating on Eurosport and discovery+.

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“Why would you do that? You can play an ordinary shot,” said Durie.

Fellow commentator Chris Bradnam agreed: “That moment? To try that? It’s a lifeline point.”

“He could have got round that and hit a forehand - that’s crazy,” added Durie.

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Ultimately, it was not an issue for Thiem - in that set at least - as he broke again straight away to win the fourth set 7-5, forcing a decider as the match moved past 1am in Melbourne.

However, it was Auger-Aliassime who emerged victorious 6-3 7-5 6-7(5) 5-7 6-3 in an epic five-setter that lasted a minute short of five hours.

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