‘Focus on’ – Dominic Thiem gears up for hard court return ahead of US Open
Dominic Thiem has completed his final practice before heading to North Carolina in the build-up to the US Open.
The 2020 US Open champion will play the ATP 250 Winston-Salem Open beginning 21st August, the week before competition gets going in New York.
Ranked 228th in the world, Thiem accepted a wildcard to make his main draw debut at the Wake Forest tournament.
“Focus on. Last practice session at home before heading to the Winston-Salem Open,” Thiem captioned an image on Twitter, tagging the tournament.
He joins former Winston-Salem champion and Montreal Masters winner Pablo Carreno Busta and world number 25 Frances Tiafoe in the draw, plus Tommy Paul and young talents Holger Rune and Lorenzo Musetti.
Thiem last played competitively back home in Austria in Kitzbuhel in late July, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to Yannick Hanfmann.
FOCUS on 🔥🎾
Last practice session at home, before heading to the @WSOpen 🇺🇸P.S loving my new barricades 👟 thanks @adidas @adidastennis pic.twitter.com/2Z3cYojQlz
— Dominic Thiem (@domithiem) August 16, 2022
Whilst he is not currently on the entry list for the US Open come 29th August, Thiem may still claim a spot in the draw with his protected ranking or a wildcard if offered.
After missing the 2021 event through injury, it would be his first time back on the New York hard courts since clinching the title there in September 2020.
Despite being ranked outside the ATP top 200, Thiem is making steady progress back up the men’s ladder after returning from injury.
But seven wins from 10 matches in Bastad, Gstaad and Kitzbuhel saw him up to 172nd in the world at the start of August before falling slightly to his current position of 228th.
🎾 Free >> Join our legendary newsletter
🎾 Join >> Receive $700/£600 of tennis gear from the Tennishead CLUB
🎾 Social >> Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube
🎾 Read >> World’s best tennis magazine
🎾 Watch >> How to enjoy ATP/WTA/Slam tennis on TV
🎾 Shop >> Lowest price tennis gear from our trusted partner