WHAT HAPPENED: Flashing some of his past shot-making brilliance and baseline tenacity, the 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem took a major step forward in his comeback by beating No. 25 Alexander Bublik on the opening day of the US Open on Monday.
Theim never allowed his focus to waver despite the unpredictable antics of his opponent’s underhand serves, unusual positioning on the court, and erratic use of drop shots, to power through a convincing 6-3, 6-2, 6- 4 victory in Grandstand nestled on the outer edges of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Thiem was a mainstay in the world’s Top 10 from 2016-2020 and ranked as high as world No. 3 in March of 2020. But, his career nose-dived after injuring his right wrist in June of 2021: His ranking plummeted as low as No. 352 in June 2022 and 12 months ago, the Austrian was still struggling at No. 211 as he lost in the US Open first round.
This season has offered tantalizing glimpses of Thiem’s former world-class form. He has climbed back into the world's Top 100 and reached the final at Kitzbuhel earlier this month.
“It took time to get my confidence back in my wrist, now I am back on track. I feel the game is back in place and a straight set victory today I couldn’t be happier," Thiem said in his on-court post-match interview.
This was his most significant win of the year and his first win at the Grand Slams in nearly three years, since the 2021 Australian Open.
Bublik led just once at 1-0 in the middle set of the 1 hour, 52-minute match, as the Kazakh misfired on just about everything that he tried. He had 17 double faults, including four in the opening game of the third set. He committed 44 unforced errors.
WHAT IT MEANS: Thiem has historically played some of his finest tennis at the US Open topped by his thrilling five-set 2020 championship match win over Alexander Zverev. He lost to Rafael Nadal in one of the all-time great matches in Flushing Meadows, a five-set epic in the 2018 quarterfinals, and has also reached the round of 16 four other times.
"Since the first time I came here there has always been special energy in this city. I hope I can make another good run," said Thiem.
MATCH POINT: Thiem is one of the dangerous unseeded players in the draw. Could he still be in the tournament on this Sunday to celebrate his 30th birthday?
