"I need the points" - Thiem starts ranking resurgence

Friday, 22 July 2022 at 16:00

Updated at Wednesday, 04 December 2024 at 18:18

Thiem Dominic MadridOpen2022 FlorinBaltatoiu9

bySam Frape

After a shock of a first set against Hugo Gaston in the first round of the Swiss Open in Gstaad (1-6), Dominic Thiem has picked up his results.

Now in the semi-finals at the Swiss tournament, it is quite the far cry from where the Austrian was in his opening encounter on the clay. After losing the first set 1-6 to Hugo Gaston, the former US Open champion has really picked up his performance.

Coming back to win that first-round match-up in three sets gave the Austrian enough momentum to see him through to the tournament's semi-final stage, with him winning six straight sets on the way.

With Federico Delbonis and Juan Pablo Varillas standing in his way in the second and third rounds, respectively, Thiem made light work of them, seeing them both off in two sets.

These wins now set him up for what will be his first ATP semi-final in more than a year. As we all know, the more one wins, the more points one accrues.

And that is exactly the motivation behind these performances for Thiem, with the Austrian explaining that he needs the points if he is to try and break back in to the Top 100 in the world rankings.

Read also

Novak Djokovic joins 2022 Laver Cup lineup to unite Big Four for the first time in history

“I played a good match yesterday and I was able to back it up today. Some things I didn’t like that much. I failed to serve out at [5-2], but it was also the nerves a little bit because it is my first semi-final in one and a half years. I need the points to go back up the rankings. I was happy I was able to break the nerves."

Looking ahead to his semi-final appearance, the Austrian reflected on what his expectations were coming into the tournament.

"Tomorrow I can go into the match free, trying to do my best. When I travelled to Bastad last week I didn’t expect to reach the quarter-finals there and then the semi-finals here. It is really, really good and I am happy with the progress."