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Dominic Thiem of Austria celebrates after winning the Men’s singles final match on day 9 of the 2019 China Open against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece at the China National Tennis Center on October 06, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Xinyu Cui/Getty Images)
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Dominic Thiem of Austria celebrates after winning the Men’s singles final match on day 9 of the 2019 China Open against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece at the China National Tennis Center on October 06, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Xinyu Cui/Getty Images)
Austrian tennis star and last year’s finalist Dominic Thiem has said that his pre-season training back home won’t make it difficult for him to adapt to the unforgiving summer Down Under as he bids for his second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
In an interview with a German sports magazine from his hotel room in Australia, the reigning US Open champion said that skills apart, his training in Austria focused majorly on the fitness aspect of the game.
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Thiem says his training back in Austria was largely indoors
Thiem further added that much of the training happened indoors, which will help him adjust to the significant shift from the Austrian chill to the Australian heat.
He said while it’s true that he did all his off-season preparation in his homeland and not under the hot sun in Miami or Tenerife, he doesn’t regret it as he had only been home for Christmas only thrice over the last ten years.
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Dominic Thiem of Austria celebrates with championship trophy after winning in a tie-breaker during his Men’s Singles final match against Alexander Zverev of Germany on Day Fourteen of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Thiem added that the experience of being home with his loved ones has contributed a lot towards putting him in the right frame of mind for upcoming challenges Down Under.
Thiem says he’s only been home for Christmas thrice in the last 10 years
The current World Number 3 will lead his country’s charge at the ATP Cup, a team event in Brisbane before launching his bid for a second Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park.
“The training was very good, we were able to work very well on the fitness part. Instead of playing outside, we played indoors. And spending Christmas and New Year at home again was very nice,” the Austrian said.
“I think I have only spent Christmas at home three times in the last 10 years, and New Year’s day only once in that same period. It was an advantage to be with the family,” Thiem said.
The Austrian ran into Novak Djokovic in the title round of the Australian Open last year, with the Serb surviving a knife-edged five-setter to clinch his 17th Grand Slam title.
Read More: “It’s my big goal”: Dominic Thiem on Beating Rafael Nadal at French Open 2021
Because of a decision taken by the tournament organizers to host the top-three in men’s and women’s fields at Adelaide as opposed to Melbourne during the two-week quarantine period, Thiem is currently anchored in the quiet, laid back South Australian city.
