MELBOURNE (AUSTRALIA) – Dominic Thiem, who had to undergo three weeks of lockdown, said on Saturday that his regrets about the near-miss at the last Australian Open were banished after his US Open breakthrough.
He pushed Novak Djokovic to five sets in last year’s final before the season was suspended following the outbreak of the pandemic.
His loss was the third rout in the Grand Slam final and he could do nothing but stew over it during the lockdown.
When the season resumed, he managed to put things in order by beating Alexander Zverev at Flushing Meadows to clinch his maiden Grand Slam title.
“I was thinking so much about that tournament, especially about the lost finals in the first part of the lockdown,” Thiem said.
“It was not a nice thought because maybe it was the best tournament I’ve ever played.
“Well, the U.S. Open title, it deleted everything somehow.
“But now I just try to recall all the positive memories and positive energy from last year.”
Experts rate Thiem as the second favourite behind the Serbian sensation to win in Melbourne.
However, he felt that Djokovic and 20-times Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal would not go quietly.
“If these two guys are competing at a tournament, I think they are still the top favourites,” he said.
“A little bit ahead of the other players, including me.