Dominic Thiem has been confirmed as the latest recipient of a wildcard for direct entry in this year's Madrid Open, which begins on 25th April next week.
The two-time finalist received confirmation of the news yesterday and now appears on the entry list for the event. It will be a welcome development for the 2020 US Open Champion, as it means he avoids having to play qualifiers in the run-up to the prestigious Masters 1000 event.
Thiem is something of a VIP when it comes to European clay-court events, such was the consistent level of his performances at these tournaments between 2017 and 2020. Despite being informally named 'the Prince of Clay', however, the Austrian has never won a major title during this stretch - something the former World No. 3 will be keen to rectify.
This year, though, the focus is more on continuing to build form and confidence through match play, as his comeback from a lengthy lay-off with a wrist injury continues. He will also be eager to get into a winning rhythm in time for the French Open at the end of next month, where he is also a two-time finalist.
Alongside Thiem, Abedallah Shelbayh has also been named as a surprise wildcard recipient. The 19-year-old has generated much excitement with his impressive performances this season, and it appears this has not gone unnoticed by one of the larger tournaments on the ATP Tour.
Shelbayh - from Jordan - is currently competing at the Banka Luka Open, an ATP 250 event at which he hopes to increase his rankings standing.
The Madrid Open will be a different beast for the young Jordanian, however. It will be interesting to see how he copes with the demands of a Masters 1000 event, and having the spotlight on him.
For Thiem, he is currently competing at the Bavarian International in Munich before heading down to Madrid to start his campaign.
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