Dominic Thiem was expected to play at the Perugia Challenger next week but has elected to withdraw from the tournament and forfeited his wild card spot.
Thiem is currently in his first season after recovering from a wrist injury he sustained while competing at last year's Mallorca Open on grass. He decided to end his 2021 season immediately after the injury and has since returned in time for the 2022 European clay swing.
The Austrian played his first tournament at the Marbella Challenger in late March. He's had to drop to the ATP's second tier as a starting point to rebuild his ranking and confidence. He fell outside the Top 100 very recently and only has limited options to use a protected ranking.
So, Thiem can only rely on wild cards for tournaments he can't directly qualify for with his current ATP ranking. So far, it has been a disastrous season for him, as he has yet to win a single match from seven tournaments, including the 2022 French Open.
He lost to Bolivia's Hugo Dellien in the first round of the clay major. Worryingly, he has only won one set from those seven matches. In recent weeks, he has lost to players such as John Millman, Andy Murray, and Marco Cecchinato on his beloved surface.
After losing at Roland Garros, Thiem was scheduled to travel to Italy to play at the Perugia Challenger after receiving a main draw wild card, which begins on June 6th. However, according to journalist Florian Heer, the 2020 US Open champion has experienced a fresh setback in his comeback journey.
Thiem is reportedly experiencing some physical problems. It is not clear if this is related to his wrist. He is set to take a month off from the Tour to rest and recuperate. This could mean the 28-year-old will eye a return at the Wimbledon Championships.