Dominic Thiem Opens Up on Doping in Tennis

The two-time Grand Slam finalist, Dominic Thiem assures there is no use of performance-enhancing drugs and none of the top professionals of tennis take it. The top-ranked Austrian was in conversation with German Socrates and over there he reflected upon the doping issue in tennis. He strongly believes that drugs won’t bring out the best within a player and he mentioned that tennis is a ‘clean’ sport. 

“After all, there was a prominent case with Maria Sharapova a few years ago. Tennis is clean. I would put my hand on fire for all the top players I know. We are often controlled. And even if someone would punch something in, I do not think that would make him play better,” the Austrian stated.

In the year 2016, the five-time Grand Slam champion, Maria Sharapova failed a drug test. She had been taking meldonium (which she knew by its trade name Mildronate) for 10 years, due to an irregular pattern of her heartbeat, but also the drug increases the physical work capabilities of athletes.

The astute clay-courter of men’s tennis, Dominic Thiem has had an illustrious 2019 season so far. He’s won five titles this season which ties his record with Novak Djokovic. In March, he captured the biggest title of his career as he won the Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000 by defeating Roger Federer in the finals. 

World Number five, Thiem once again reached the finals of Roland-Garros and en route to that final in Paris, the 26-year-old Austrian snapped a 26 Grand Slam match-winning streak of Djokovic.

Presently, Dominic Thiem has booked his spot at the ATP World Tour Finals 2019 and the fifth seed is drawn to face Roger Federer in his first match. Later, he willing grappling against Novak Djokovic and Matteo Berrettini in the round-robin of the London tournament.