In a pandemic year, which has largely been forgettable for many, Austrian tennis star Dominic Thiem has had something to rejoice.

Thiem clinched his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open this year, scripting a fairytale comeback win.

What’s more, he has guaranteed his fifth appearance at the prestigious ATP Tour Finals at London’s O2 Arena.

And, to top it all, he has received the award for Austrian ‘Sportsman of the Year’.

Dominic Thiem will play Tour Finals for the fifth time

His fifth entry to an event, which features the Top-8 players in men’s tennis, speaks volumes on where his game is currently at.

The fitness issues which kept the Austrian out of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna are no longer there.

Thiem has declared himself fit for the Tour Finals.

Read More: “Very Happy”: Dominic Thiem reacts to receiving prestigious award for historic achievements

On current form, the World Number 3 is one of the title-contenders at the season-ending event.

Manager says Dominic Thiem back to full fitness

Thiem’s manager Herwig Straka has said that he is back in the swing of things and eyeing a winning run in the Tour Finals.

Speaking to Austria Press Agency, Straka said, “He (Thiem) is fully fit again.”

“Dominic has been training fully for several days and is in great mood,” his manager added.

Thiem’s first title clash at Tour Finals ended in defeat

Last year, Thiem made the finals of his prestigious event but went down in three sets to Greek Stepanos Tsitsipas. 

After winning the opening set 7-6, Thiem’s game fell away as the Greek came back to take the next couple of sets 6-2, 7-6.

While Britain is in the middle of a fresh lockdown due to a spike in Covid cases, the Tour Finals will be staged as scheduled.

However, the optics around the event will change as the matches won’t have spectators.

The players would also have to confine themselves to a bio-bubble through the length of the tournament.

In a sign that the pandemic has hit ATP’s coffers, the tournament’s prize money is down to 5.7million dollars from 9 million dollars.

However, the restrictions and reduced purse would take nothing away from the tournament’s competitive edge as it will pit the Top-8 against each other.