Four years in the past, Dominic Thiem arrived on the BNP Paribas Open having endured a disastrous begin to season. He left as a champion, defeating Roger Federer to seize his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells.
Another title run this fortnight may appear formidable for the present world No. 102, however the former US Open champion definitely is available in hoping for a powerful run within the desert to once more snap him out of a funk.
“I came there playing wise in a really bad situation,” Thiem stated on Wednesday. “[I was] not playing well and I was not expecting anything and then slowly somehow, I started to play better and better, winning matches. I got a little bit lucky. Gael Monfils had to retire in the quarters and then I happened to win the tournament. If people knew how I would have felt and played before Indian Wells they would be very surprised that I ended up winning.”
Thiem arrived in Indian Wells in 2019 struggling for kind and health. The 29-year-old held a 3-4 report on the season, having suffered first-round exits in Doha and Rio de Janeiro and a second-round defeat on the Australian Open.
However, he shortly discovered his finest stage, not dropping a set in his first three matches earlier than he acquired a walkover from Gael Monfils to achieve the semi-finals.
“After Rio I decided to go early to Indian Wells, to prepare myself physically and with my tennis,” Thiem stated. “It was a good decision because from being not fit at all and playing really bad in two weeks I was giving myself a great chance to play great tennis and fight all the match, because I was physically fit.”
With confidence restored, Thiem defeated Milos Raonic in a three-set battle to advance to his third Masters 1000 ultimate, the place he confronted Federer.
“For me it was an unbelievable week and I was going into the final relaxed against Roger, who was the favourite and playing well back then,” stated Thiem, who misplaced ATP Masters 1000 finals in Madrid in 2017 and 2018. “I wasn’t putting any pressure [on me] because before when I played the first Madrid final I was putting pressure on myself because I wanted to win this first [ATP Masters] 1000. It was different in Indian Wells. I was just enjoying those two weeks, enjoying my tennis and that is probably a reason why I ended up winning.”
Thiem Topples Federer For Maiden Masters Title
An exciting ultimate noticed Federer clinch the primary set, earlier than Thiem rallied to earn a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory. It was a second in his profession he displays fondly on.
“The first set there was exactly why Roger is so popular and why people love to watch Roger so much. He was toying with me,” Thiem stated. “He was playing at his best level. He was doing whatever he wanted and when he is at this level, it is impossible to play him. I was just hoping he would have one weak game in the second set and he had it and I broke and then the match was kind of opening. I am also happy I witnessed this first set, it was an unbelievable experience to play against someone playing such good tennis.”
Thiem will play Adrian Mannarino within the first spherical on Thursday, aiming to earn simply his second tour-level win of the season.
Source web site: www.atptour.com
