Thiem Experiencing 'Pinch Me' Moments In London

Dominic Thiem has practised on the blue centre court at The O2. He’s eaten in player dining and walked around the expansive arena. He’s also sat in his own personal locker room.

Yet the 23 year old is still having a hard time convincing himself that he’s actually here, in southeast London, at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, among the Top 8 players in the world.

“Everything is very impressive. It’s a unique tournament… The way the players get treated, it’s very special. I still can hardly believe I made it here,” he said.

It has been a breakthrough season for Thiem. At the end of 2015, he was ranked No. 20 and had won three ATP World Tour titles, but they had all come on clay.

This season, the Austrian has more than shown his improved game on grass and hard courts. He’s won four ATP World Tour titles on three different surfaces – clay, grass and hard. He was also the only player to win at least 25 matches on clay and hard courts.

The Austrian also set career highs in match wins (57) and finals appearances (6). “It was an amazing year, and I never expected that it’s going to happen the way it happened,” he said.

Perhaps most impressive about Thiem’s 2016 has been his improved winning percentage during his closest matches. The right-hander leads the ATP World Tour with a 21-2 record in matches that have come down to a decisive set. Before this season, Thiem had a losing record in such contests (19-21).

The tournament will get very real for Thiem on Sunday. The youngest player in the Top 10 of the Emirates ATP Rankings faces second seed Novak Djokovic for the fourth time. Thiem is going for his first win against Djokovic, who’s won the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals the past four years.

The two played twice earlier this season, in the fourth round at the Miami Open presented by Itau, where Thiem fell 6-3, 6-4 and went one for 15 on break points. They also met in Paris during the Roland Garros semi-finals, where Djokovic advanced 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.

“I know a little bit, what I have to expect. Still the last time I played him I think he was at his absolute peak, at Roland Garros. There was no chance for me, so I hope that he’s not playing like there because otherwise I think nobody has a chance against him,” Thiem said. “I just hope that I have a good start.”

Thiem, who is also the youngest player to qualify for the finale, doesn’t mind being the most youthful player in London. He hopes that he makes many returns to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, and that some of his ATP World Tour counterparts join him during future seasons.

“Of course I hope that there are maybe one or two more young players here but still, it’s only eight spots,” Thiem said. “It’s really, really tough to get here. You have to play very consistent and [have] a successful season.”

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