Dominic Thiem snaps ATP winless streak at 426 days with courageous comeback victory in Bastad

Dominic Thiem has clinched a first ATP tour win since May 2021 to reach the second round of the 250 level Nordea Open in Bastad, Sweden. 

The 2020 US Open champion came from a set down to defeat 23-year-old world number 43 Emil Ruusuvuori or Finland 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) on Tuesday.

Now ranked 339th in the world, Thiem is making his tournament debut in Bastad as he looks to rebuild his ranking and return to the top of the men’s game.

“It’s a long time,” Thiem admitted in his on-court interview. “My last victory was in Rome in 2021, it feels like a different world somehow.

“Many, many things happened. It was tough, but it was also a very good experience I think, for life in general. I’m so happy that I got this first victory here today.”

That win in Rome came on 12th May 2021 against Hungarian pro Marton Fucsovics.

In the time since, Thiem spent nine months out with a wrist injury from June 2021 to March of this year, going 0-6 at tour level since his return up until Bastad.

With his win over Ruusuvuori, the 28-year-old former world number three is provisionally up 30 places in the ATP live rankings to 309.

In the second round, Thiem will take on ATP veteran and world number 20 Roberto Bautista Agut after the 34-year-old received a bye as the fourth seed.

Should he down the Spaniard in that encounter, Thiem would break back into the ATP top 300.

 

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