Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem stated that this season will be his "last chance" to return to the highest levels of play and improve his rank in the world tennis standings after experiencing a decline due to injuries. The former world number three (30 years old) has struggled to regain his top form after suffering a wrist injury in 2021, which sidelined him for several months, and he fell out of the top 300 players in 2022. Thiem, who reached the French Open finals twice, ended 2023 ranked 98th in the world, and while he hoped to continue climbing the rankings with a strong performance at the Australian Open, he was eliminated in the first round.
Thiem told Austrian media on Tuesday, "I see this as my last chance. If I can manage it, things could happen quickly. I returned to competition two years ago after my injury, and I finished last year ranked 98th in the world. If I can end this year back in the top 100, I will start to think if it is worth all this effort. Of course, I was in a ranking position that I did not desire for the past two years. This weighs heavily on me. I have been struggling to feel like I can continue to play the way I expect from myself."
Thiem also mentioned that he has parted ways with his long-time coach Benjamin Brahimzadeh.
