Taking things easy is one thing that doesn’t apply the motto of rising star Dominic Thiem. Emulating his chaotic start to this season, he is set to play eight tournaments within the first three months according to his planned 2017 schedule.
The world No.9, who is within touching distance of qualifying for his first ATP Finals, could potentially play competitive matches in the first seven weeks of the tour next year if he progresses to the fourth round or beyond at the Australian Open.
Thiem also kicked-off this season by playing eight tournaments within the same time period. Next year will however see a different approach by the Austrian, who has opted to not defend his title at the Buenos Aires Open. Instead of playing on the red clay, a surface that he has won five ATP titles on, the 23-year-old plans to play back-to-back hard court tournaments during the first three months.
“This is how it (the schedule) looks at the moment. Maybe something will change.” Thiem’s coach Günter Bresnik told tennisnet.com on Monday.
Earlier this year at the Roger Cup in Toronto, Thiem admitted that his action-packed start to this season resulted in physical problems for him. The French Open quarter-finalist played 28 matches during the first quarter of 2016 (not counting doubles or the Davis Cup matches) and won 22 of them. It was a performance that exceeded his expectations.
“I think a little bit difference is, for sure, that I didn’t expect to play that many matches, and that many tournaments, and go that deep in almost every tournament,” he said in June. “And last year, also, I played a lot of tournaments. But obviously I had a couple of first-round and second-round losses … Yeah, I will have to get used to [playing] that many matches.
“…Yeah, my coach didn’t expect that I’d do that well. Myself, for sure, I didn’t expect to do that well.”
Approaching the end of 2016 with four titles to under his belt, Thiem currently lies in seventh place in the race to the ATP Finals in London. He is required to put in a strong performance at both the Vienna Open and Paris Masters in order to secure his place. Only the top eight in the world will play at the O2 Arena.
Thiem’s provisional 2017 schedule
Week 1 – Brisbane Open starting 3/1/17
Week 2 – Sydney International starting 11/1/17
Week 3/4 – Australian Open starting 18/1/17
Week 5 – Sofia Open starting 1/2/17
Week 6 – Rotterdam Open starting 8/2/17
Week 7 – No tournament
Week 8 – Acapulco Open starting 22/2/17
Week 10 – Davis Cup (Thiem not playing)
Week 11/12 – Indian Wells Masters starting 10/3/17
Week 12/13 – Miami Masters starting 23/2/17.
