Thiem switches focus of injury comeback efforts

Dominic Thiem is vowing to shake up the focus of his long-running wrist injury comeback efforts, with the former US Open winner working to have more fun on court.

The Austrian won the Open in 2020 when it was played under COVID pandemic conditions without spectators. But he later suffered a wrist injury in June, 2021 and has been struggling ever since after missing months of play.

The No. 96 who lost in the Australian Open first round and dropped two Davis Cup matches this month, said he will no longer work like an automaton on the practice court.

 “I try to get away from the idea of being a machine. No more practicing for hours without thinking about anything,” he told Austria’s Der Standard.

“I try to enjoy more of the good things. To me that means good shots or good points. But it’s not easy.”  

Thiem said that fixing his mental attitude is a one-man job:

“”It only depends on me. I could take Federer as a mental coach, but I am convinced that he would not help me.”

He added: “In Melbourne, after the final, I saw how energetic Novak Djokovic was. It is a difficult phase when you are successful.

“It’s not very fun. I always had trouble savoring victories.”