"My heart sunk, I didn't recognize the guy" - Tennis analyst  suggests Dominic Thiem's Argentina Open loss was defining moment of his struggles

Dominic Thiem's struggles continued with yet another early loss, this time in the opening round of the ongoing Chile Open. The former World No. 3 went down 6-2, 7-6(2) to Cristian Garin, making it seven losses in eight matches for the Austrian so far in the 2023 season.

In that context, tennis analyst and broadcaster Gill Gross suggested that Thiem's recent Argentina Open loss to Juan Pablo Varillas was the defining moment of his struggles. Gross claimed he "didn't recognize" Thiem in the match against Varillas, implying that the 2020 US Open champion no longer has the ability to make a big impact on the tour.

Thiem has only managed to win a combined three sets in his eight matches this season. That includes Austria's Davis Cup tie against Croatia, in which he lost both matches in straight sets.

"It's been ugly, it's been really tough," Gross said on a recent episode of the 'Monday Match Analysis' podcast. "The most gobsmacked I've been with Thiem was watching his match against Juan Pablo Varillas in Buenos Aires. That was probably the moment for me...where my heart sunk in a big way because I didn't recognize the guy."

Thiem's only win so far this season came against Alex Molcan, in the first round of the Argentina Open. However, Gross claimed the win against Molcan was no indication of Thiem's level of tennis given that Molcan himself has been struggling a lot of late.

"He beat Alex Molcan. Molcan, by the way, is a mess himself, he has zero confidence. Thiem beat him, but then lost to Juan Pablo Varillas (Argentina Open), Thiago Monteiro (Rio Open), and Cristian Garin in Santiago, Chile," Gross said.

Dissecting the Austrian's tennis further, Gross stated that Thiem is now a very defensive player with no attacking facets to his game. He also criticized Thiem's forehand, which he feels is "pedestrian" and often lets him down.

"He is right now a defensive player, he is a grinder. There is no offense to his game, none. His forehand is pedestrian, completely average, it's not good, above average, great, or elite. Guys, it's hard to watch," Gross stated.

"Dominic Thiem isn't even trying to be the guy he used to be" - Tennis analyst Gill Gross

Dominic Thiem in action at the 2023 Australian Open.

Gill Gross further opined that had Dominic Thiem been struggling with fitness or certain technical aspects of his game, he would have still been optimistic about his prospects. However, he believes the two-time French Open finalist is 'not even trying' to play like he used to before suffering a serious wrist injury in 2021.

"It would be one thing if he (Dominic Thiem) was trying to play the way he was and failing at it," Gross said. "Mistiming the ball, making a lot of errors, struggling with footwork or fitness and getting tired."

"If all those things were happening, it would be one thing. Dominic Thiem isn't even trying to be the guy he used to be."

Currently at No. 99 in the ATP rankings, Dominic Thiem is set to slip outside the top 100 at the end of this week. He will now aim to regain his form at the Indian Wells Masters next week, where he won the title in 2019.

Thiem has been granted a singles wild card to compete in the 2023 edition. He has not won a singles title on tour since the 2020 US Open.