Dominic Thiem on Alexander Zverev – “We Are More Than Just Colleagues”

Austrian World Number four, Dominic Thiem hits the European Clay Open in Hamburg, before he flies for his North American hardcourt tour. He is drawn to face the 2016 German Open finalist, Pablo Cuevas in Hamburg’s opening round.

Before starting his German Open 2019 venture, the French Open finalist, Dominic Thiem spoke about his fellow tennis player, Alexander Zverev. Both the top ten players are on board to compensate for their opening-round losses at Wimbledon 2019. 

“On the one hand, every competitor in the fight for the title is less good, on the other hand, I am pleased to see him,” Thiem addressed. “We are more than just colleagues. The sessions with the Hamburger on the Play Station should not be a thing of the past. But I hope he has increased his level like me. We are real champions.”

Further, Hamburg’s top-seed, Dominic Thiem praised his clay-courter round one opponent, Pablo Cuevas. The Uruguayan, Cuevas has reached ten ATP finals in his career, and nine of them were played on clay. Out of those nine finals, Cuevas has won six of them. He uses heavy topspin off his forehand side and has a near-perfect clay-court game.

“A very good clay-court player,” Thiem said. “I’m highly motivated on every surface, but on sand, I have even more confidence. Because it is easier to catch up on residues. Because not every stupidity is immediately punished with a sentence or match loss. Especially on the grass.”

This year, during the clay season, Thiem won 15 matches which includes his title win in Barcelona and his deep run to the finals of French Open 2019. Post that, at Wimbledon Championships 2019, the fifth seed, Thiem was defeated by Sam Querrey in the opening round and the American giant fed him bagel in the last set they play in SW19. 

The German Open Tennis Championships in Hamburg was designated as ATP Masters Series from 2000-08 and it was held before the Paris major, in the month of May. In 2009, it was downgraded to ATP 500 Series and was shifted in the hiatus between Wimbledon and North American hardcourt tour.