2024-01-17 10:30:00
The background: Despite a remarkable comeback, Dominic Thiem lost a five-set thriller in the first round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday. The 30-year-old from Lower Austria improved after a weak start against Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN/27) and forced a fifth set against the world number 30 after a 3:6, 5:7 deficit. After 4:59 hours, the Canadian, who was seven years younger, won, Thiem ultimately lost 3:6, 5:7, 7:6(5), 7:5, 3:6. “At the end of the day, you play for five hours and the decision comes down to a few very tight situations. “That’s bitter, of course,” a disappointed Thiem summed up after the match.
Some users also expressed their disappointment on social networks. More specifically, her anger. Thiem is repeatedly insulted, sometimes badly, and sent into retirement. This bashing of Austria’s former tennis figurehead now prompted the Austrian Tennis Association (ÖTV) to issue a statement defending the US Open winner: “We would like to expressly emphasize at this point: We are very proud of Dominic Thiem, how he presents his country to the outside world and its successes – and that should actually be every local tennis fan.”
Here is the whole statement:
In the run-up to the Australian Open, Thiem’s long-time coach Günter Bresnik had already expressed his displeasure about the underhanded comments in an interview with the Kleine Zeitung: “You shouldn’t besmirch Dominic, the current situation hurts him the most. And he doesn’t have elephant skin.”
Thiem himself has not yet commented on the insults. He is now heading back to Europe and to Ireland with the ÖTV team at the beginning of February. “I’ll be playing Davis Cup now, then a UTS event and then probably Doha, Dubai. Then it goes over to America. Now I have to digest the defeat for a moment, then things will move on in quick succession anyway.”
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