Dominic Thiem sees 2024 as 'last chance' to rediscover best level as former Grand Slam champion mulls future
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Published 01/02/2024 at 07:44 GMT
Dominic Thiem was one of the best players in the world a few years ago. He was ranked at No. 3 in the world in 2020 and won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open. However, he has fallen down the rankings and now seems to be considering his future in the sport. Thiem has spoken out "whether it’s still worth it" and has revealed plans to drop to Challenger level.
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Dominic Thiem considers this season his “last chance” to see whether he can rediscover his best level as he mulls his future in tennis.
Thiem was at the peak of his powers when he won his first Grand Slam title at the 2020 US Open.
He was ranked at No. 3 in the world that year and was also runner-up at the Nitto ATP Finals. But his drop in form since the start of 2021 is one of tennis’ great mysteries.
He has had injury issues to contend with but has also looked well below his best when fit and has plummeted down the rankings.
He is currently at No. 90 in the world and has admitted to doubts over his future in tennis.
“I see this as my last chance. If I make it, it can happen quickly,” he told Der Standard.
“I’ve been back for two years now since the injury, and I finished 2022 on 100 or so and last year on 98. If I finish the year on 100 again, you have to think about whether it’s still worth it.”
Adding that a goal is to get back into the top 50, Thiem said: “I’ve been in ranking positions for two years now that I don’t want to be in. Of course that weighs on me.
"There are a lot of things that come along that I haven't known for years, such as being worried about getting into the main competitions of tournaments.
“I’ve been chasing the feeling for a long time of really being able to play tennis in a match again as I can, and the way I expect myself to.”
Thiem recently split from his coach Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh.
Asked whether he could hire a star name as a coach to try and help his climb up the rankings, he said: “No…definitely not. I want someone who also knows my way. I became so successful in a certain way.
“It will be someone who knows me as a player - since I was young, so to speak. I see that as the only chance to get the finishing touches to my game.”
Thiem also dismissed the idea that he is playing for money.
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"I never did it for the money. I'm not a person who values money very much.
“To be honest, I don't really care about the whole issue. I've been chasing the feeling of really playing the kind of tennis I can again - and the way I expect myself to - in a match for a while now.”
Thiem is set to drop down to the second-tier Challenger Tour as he looks to gain confidence.
He will miss Indian Wells and the Miami Open in March, and instead play clay Challenger events.
"Then I can soon move towards the top 70, 60 - and I can also plan better, because the ranking where I am now is a difficult one,” he explained.
“Every 250 tournament is a nail-biter."
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