WATCH: Dominic Thiem moves ‘onto the next one’ after ‘surprising end’ to Munich clash
Dominic Thiem secured his place in the round of 16 in the Bavarian International Tennis Championship after Frenchman Constant Lestienne retired due to an injury in his left calf.
Theim’s last performance before coming into the tournament was at the Monte-Carlo Masters, where he exited in the round of 32 after losing 2-6, 4-6 to Holger Rune.
The Austrian started off his Bavarian International Tennis Championship against Lestienne in the round of 16.
The former US Open champion was leading 6-3 against Lestienne and was serving AD/40 in the first game of the second set before the match got called off due to the Frenchman’s injury. Thiem was happy with the victory and is looking toward his next match. However, the star would have preferred to have earned his spot properly.
“It was a surprising end, not the way I wanted,” Thiem said after his win. “But it’s okay and on to the next one.”
The 29-year-old certainly enjoys playing on the clay courts and was able to show off some of his ability on the surface before the match was called to a stop. The former world No 3 played some excellent soft-handed strikes to deliver some killer drop shots.
The Austrian has struggled with injury in recent years with his last title coming at the 2020 US Open. Thiem is currently ranked No 101 in the ATP Rankings and will look to break into the top 100 in the coming week.
The 17-time title winner has made his first appearance at the tournament since 2016, where the Austrian reached the final. Unfortunately he lost the showpiece match narrowly to Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Thiem loves to play in Munich and has very fond memories of the tournament, both on and off the court.
“Of course I love to play here. The memory of snow in the first round, the break because of heavy snowfall is very funny. I’ll have it in my head forever, so I really like to remember that and also the week in 2016 was great,” he said back in 2016.
“Just a little bit sad when Philipp Kohlschreiber went by with the winner’s car. It was tough, but obviously I love to play here and very happy to be in the second round.”
Thiem will face Swiss star Marc-Andrea Huesler tomorrow in the round of 16. Huesler claimed his spot in the round of 16 after defeating British star Kyle Edmund in the round of 32. The pair battled it out for two hours and 16 minutes, with Huesler coming out on top after a score of 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-3.
