Dominic Thiem should prioritize the US Open over French Open as he has a better chance at winning there, believes tennis writer and expert Matt Roberts. 

Until a couple of seasons ago, there were doubts over Thiem’s game on hard courts since he didn’t produce the results that were expected of him.

On clay though, he has been considered a strong contender since the last few seasons and has reached two French Open finals.

Thiem then won a first Masters 1000 title on the hard courts of Indian Wells last year. He also reached the final match of the ATP Finals last year.

At the start of 2020, Thiem defeated Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open on his way to the final, where he lost to Novak Djokovic.

Dominic Thiem is the second best player on hard courts, says Roberts

Roberts also said that Dominic Thiem could play both the French Open and US Open, but if he has to pick, it should be the US Open.

“He is someone who can realistically play both, and will play both, but I think he has a better shot at winning the US Open,” said Roberts.

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“He is a better clay courter still than he is a hard courter, but he’s very good on hard courts. His problem is Nadal is on a different level at the French Open,” Roberts added.

He went on to say that Thiem is the second-best player on hard courts in the world at the moment.

“Djokovic is a big hurdle at the US Open, but Thiem is the second-best hard courter in the world behind Djokovic on the men’s side,” Roberts expressed.

“US Open draw could open up for Thiem”

“The US Open could be a tournament of slightly strange results as players adapt to not having the crowd and coming back after such a long lay-off,” he added.

That factor could also work against him, says Roberts, but admits that the draw could open up as well.

“He could be a victim of those results, I get that as well. But its possible the draw could open up,” said Roberts.

“I do think he’s a genuine contender at both, but he’s more likely to win the US Open,” he added.

Thiem had said last week that he intends to play the US Open. Speaking on the sidelines of the exhibition event in Berlin, he said, “I hope the next is the US Open. I am still not sure 100% that it is going to happen. But the plan is to go there in the middle of August and if this is happening, it means that the normal Tour is coming back which is what we are all hoping for.”

Source – The Tennis Podcast