Austria's Davis Cup preparations suffered a significant blow with the news that Dominic Thiem hasn't recovered from a stomach inflammation.
Consequently, Thiem has withdrawn from the upcoming World Group tie against Portugal scheduled to take place between September 15th and 16th on the indoor hard courts of Multiversum Schwechat in Austria.
The 30-year-old retired from his second-round match against Ben Shelton at the US Open after just one set due to a stomach-related issue. He told doctors that he threw up prior to that match and almost did so again during a bathroom break.
Thiem confirmed that he would undergo some tests when he goes back to Austria. It appears the issue needs more treatment time and the word is that he will now miss the tie against Portugal and is a major doubt to play the Challenger 125 event in Bad Waltersdorf in his home country next week.
Thiem appeared to have turned a corner in the past month after reaching his first ATP final since 2020 at his home tournament in Kitzbuhel. Although he was operating on an empty tank in the final where he lost to Sebastian Baez, he savored his first major win since 2021 when he defeated Alexander Bublik in straight sets in the opening round of the US Open.
The 2020 US Open champion was called up into the team by captain Jurgen Melzer to lead the country past the World Group I stage, but they'll have to do it without their talisman. Austria's depth could hinder their progress with Sebastian Ofner being their only high-profile Top 100 player in the team.
Austria lost their qualifying tie to Croatia earlier this year, with Thiem accounting for two costly defeats in singles to Borna Gojo and Borna Coric. At the time, Thiem was a major doubt to compete in the event after picking up a rib injury during his first-round defeat to Andrey Rublev at the 2023 Australian Open.
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