Austrian tennis star Dominic Thiem has shed more light on his seven-week break from tennis and has also shared his thoughts on whether he would recommend the same for other tennis stars battling fatigue or the mental exertions of playing in the new normal.

The reigning US Open champion withdrew himself from the Tour to heal some niggles as well as mental scars from a run of unflattering results starting with his tame, fourth-round exit at this year’s Australian Open.

However, he marked his return to competitive action with an emphatic win over American Marcos Giron in his first match at the ongoing Madrid Open.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his next match against Australian Alex De Minaur, the two-time Madrid runners-up said that his break from tennis had something to do with playing in the new normal but wasn’t the only reason.

He added that being in professional tennis means that a player has to sustain one’s levels for 11 months at a stretch, which is tough.

Dominic Thiem says the six-month pandemic break last year felt nice

Thiem said that after being on the road for so long, fatigue does creep into one’s system at times and a break does help in recharging one’s batteries.

“Everybody’s different, you know. The break, for me, had a little to do with the Covid restrictions but not so much. I mean, tennis is, with some few other sports, the only sport which is 11 months in a row, basically. That’s really tough,” the 27-year-old Austrian said.

Though forced by the circumstances, he added that the six-month pandemic break last year “felt so nice”.

Thiem says such breaks are necessary as a player grows older

Thiem said that he wouldn’t mind taking similar breaks every now and then as it helps a player stay motivated and committed to the sport even as he grows older. “It’s definitely something I consider, as well, in the future to better take a little bit more off. I think it’s a good thing to do and especially when you get a little bit older,” Thiem said.

He added that one can play week after week in his early twenties and even he did that but as one grows older, “it’s good to do a break sometimes”.

“For me, it definitely helped. But as I said, everybody is different, so I don’t want to give any advice,” Thiem said.

The break seemed to have done him a world of good as he played like the Thiem of old against the unheralded American.

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