The day after Dominic Thiem announced his resignation, there was an outpouring of understanding on the tennis scene, but also much sadness. There you can read about “unfinished” matter, “too soon” or “unfinished business”. But respect for the tennis star’s achievements and the aesthetics of her game can be seen in the comments of many fans and experts on social networks. Former coach Günter Bresnik doesn’t believe Thiem’s future comeback is possible.
After Thiem’s only Grand Slam win at Flushing Meadows in 2020, losing after five sets, Alexander Zverev tearfully told his good travel buddy, “This is the first of many Grand Slam titles.” An unfulfilled prophecy.
Gunter Bresnik and Dominic Thiem at the French Open 2018
© Matthias Hauer
This aftertaste is behind the theme’s career. “He had a great career or should have had a great one,” the man who made Tim a star told the APA – Austria press agency on Saturday. Günter Bresnik, who is not a fan of social networks anyway, has something to say on the matter. “The way Dominic has been vilified in this anti-social media over the last couple of years is appalling to me.”
That’s why he didn’t like that Friday’s farewell to Thiem took place through these networks. “I’m horrified at how this was announced yesterday.” Yet Bresnik is surprised by the fact that the 30-year-old Thiem doesn’t think a rebirth is impossible.
“Dominic is an exceptionally good tennis player and I don’t think it’s out of the question that we could see him bounce back in six months or a year,” the 63-year-old coach said. For this. “For me he is very fresh physically, technically and athletically. After months of practice, he certainly has what it takes to play at a level where he can stand in the top 50 or even top 30.
Hervik Straka, another of Thiem’s former managers, expressed some ambivalence about the impending decision about APA on Saturday. “To a certain extent I understand the result, because he is trying to get back to where he was for many years. From what I hear, he trained well, but when the results don’t come, it’s frustrating, I understand that. At the same time, it’s sad for him and especially for Austrian tennis. I think it’s also bittersweet.
The Viennese tournament chairman, who has an important say in the ATP, compared the 2021 skier to a skier who falls on a bad jump after an injury. “Some people get over it one day later and it’s all over, and there are people who don’t jump again for the rest of their lives. I think that (the injury, note) stopped him.
You may perform external evaluations, but you do not have the right to do so. “I think it was his own decision. I feel very sorry for him. There were many attempts to help him. I tried to talk to him a few times,” said Straka, who spoke of “victory depression” in connection with the mental hole after the US Open title. “Every superstar falls into a hole after a successful concert. Then came the injury from which he could not recover.
Thiem could no longer write a grand comeback story a la Niki Lauda, Thomas Muster or Hermann Meyer. And arguments about an “unfinished” symphony are understandable to Straga. “I refuse to believe it entirely, but I understand it now. But if you say in advance when you want to stop, a lot more can happen.
Straka doesn’t want to get his hopes up about it, but: “I’ll believe it when the time comes. I understand she has completed American Danielle Collins, who won two tournaments after announcing her retirement in 2024. “Something like that often triggers something. I’ve been through a lot already. Who knows what’s coming.”
No report from Thomas Muster
However, Straga doesn’t believe the comparison to Thomas Muster is appropriate. “You can’t compare it,” said Straga, who, as Muster’s manager, still has plenty of contact with his close friend. “If the surfaces had been like they are today, I think Thomas Muster would have won a lot more.”
Straga is satisfied that Muster and Thiem were “the best of their time.” He asked Muster to make a statement to the media about his resignation, but he declined to comment at this time.
Straga was very close to Thiem as a manager before the change. “It was a successful time. I don’t think things would have been different for me.” Despite leading the competition at the Erste Bank Open, he will help give Thiem a good farewell when he actually bids farewell at the Town Hall. No specific request has been made regarding this yet.
