Thiem sets Australian Open deadline as he delays trip Down Under

The
28-year-old
has
not
played
on
the
ATP
Tour
since
suffering
a
wrist
injury
at
the
grass-court
Mallorca
Championships
in
June.

Thiem
missed
Wimbledon
and
could
not
defend
his
grand
slam
title
at
Flushing
Meadows,
with
injury
fears
lingering
ahead
of
the
new
season.

Despite
not
requiring
surgery
on
the
damaged
wrist,
Thiem
has
been
unable
to
play
competitively
and
experienced
a
fresh
setback
this
month
when
he
pulled
out
of
the
Mubadala
World
Tennis
Championship,
an
exhibition
event
in
Abu
Dhabi.

In
announcing
that
decision
on
December
14,
Thiem
said
he
was
“not
yet
ready
to
compete
at
the
highest
level”,
and
there
was
little
to
inspire
confidence
when
he
issued
an
update
confirming
he
would
not
travel
to
play
in
two
events
ahead
of
the
Australian
Open.

Although
Thiem
still
wants
to
play
at
Melbourne
Park,
where
the
slam
begins
on
January
17,
his
prospects
are
hinging
on
him
feeling
significantly
more
optimistic
about
his
game
and
fitness
in
a
matter
of
days.

Thiem
wrote:
“After
speaking
to
my
team,
we
have
decided
to
return
to
Austria,
instead
of
flying
directly
to
Australia.

“Unfortunately,
I
caught
a
cold
[and
tested
negative
for
COVID-19]
while
in
Dubai
and
was
unable
to
practise
last
week.
I
will
therefore
not
be
in
the
physical
condition
required
to
be
able
to
play
the
ATP
Cup
and
Sydney
ATP
250.

“After
not
competing
for
the
last
six
months
I
can’t
take
the
risk
of
coming
back
too
soon
and
picking
up
a
further
injury.

“Overall,
the
time
I
spent
in
Dubai
was
great
as
I’ve
increased
the
intensity
and
level
of
practise
and
my
wrist
is
almost
at
100
per
cent.

“My
aim
is
still
to
play
the
Australian
Open
but
we
will
make
a
final
decision
about
my
participation
by
the
end
of
December.”