After a seven-week break from tennis, Austrian tennis ace Dominic Thiem is feeling the rush of adrenaline again. The reigning US Open champion withdrew himself from the Tour on the back of some unflattering results since his fourth-round exit at this year’s Australian Open.

Back in the scenic comforts of his homeland, he not only had ample time to reset his focus but also heal the niggles that he had been carrying on the road.

Dominic Thiem is back on the practice courts

Now back in training and eyeing a return to action next month, Thiem said he never feels burdened by the grind of competition, but a few hours of “intense training” after a long lay-off could be hard to take.

The 27-year-old Austrian, whose dip in form has seen him drop to No.4 in singles, still has some problem with his left knee, which has been medically attributed to a congenital skin fold in both his knee joints.

The condition resulted in pain in the right knee last year, but this year it’s the left one that’s been giving him good grief.

His sore left knee was the reason why he pulled out of this year’s Serbia Open after initially committing to the event.

Speaking to a German publication, Thiem said, “Nothing can happen, no matter how much I burden. The pain only comes after two or two-and-a-half hours of intense training, but that’s okay.”

He added that when he puts his mind to the matches and tournaments that lie ahead, it fills him with the desire and drive to return to competition at the earliest.

Dominic Thiem says every training session is like taking a step closer to making a competitive return

Thiem said every training session is like taking one step closer to making a competitive return.

“When I look at the matches now, there’s even more adrenaline going on. In general, it is getting better every day,” Thiem said.

(Quotes have been translated via Google)

Knowing full well the significance of the upcoming events at Madrid and Rome as well as Roland-Garros, the Austrian is hoping to be pain-free in the business end of the European claycourt leg.

Read More: “Shouldn’t Come Back Until it Makes Sense”: Dominic Thiem Opens Up on Sabbatical From Tennis

Thiem recently reiterated his goal to wrest the French Open title from ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal as his biggest goal this year.