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Dominic Thiem's woes continue to mount as the Austrian suffered yet another frustrating defeat on tour.
Thiem faced off against Lorenzo Sonego in the opening round of the 2023 Miami Open on Thursday (March 23). After an engaging first set that went Sonego's way, Thiem looked exhausted and showed signs of struggling to carry on. The Austrian fell too easily under his Italian opponent's clean-hitting during the second set.
Sonego eventually wrapped up the match 7-6(7), 6-2 as Thiem's win-loss record in 2023 dropped to 1-8. His only win came at the Argentina Open, where he defeated Alex Molcan in the first round.
It seems like Thiem is yet to recover from the wrist injury he picked up in 2021. With huge concerns engrossing the former US Open champion, he was seen animated on the player's bench.
Many from the tennis world took to social media to mourn the Austrian's dire situation. Bastien Faschan, author of 'Big Three,' noted that it is tormenting to come to terms with such harsh realities in the sport, emphasizing Thiem's injury.
"Coming to terms with reality is a heart-wrencher when injuries derailed you while at the height of your career. I just hope Domi gets all the support and love he needs off the court," the tweet read.
One fan recalled Thiem being once identified as the frontrunner of "Next Gen," declaring that his recent downfall has been nothing but "tough to watch."
"#Thiem is so talented, he was the front runner of the Next Gen and all of a sudden he seems blocked, unable to perform at his level. Hopefully soon he will find his way. This is tough to watch," a fan opined.
Here are a few more fan reactions to Dominic Thiem's struggles:
Dominic Thiem could get back to his best with one big win, says Andy Murray
Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray admitted that Dominic Thiem's current situation is a hard pill to swallow. However, he feels that a big win could see the Austrian bounce back and rediscover his best form.
"For Thiem, it's really hard when you've been out for such a long time. Some of it, you know, can be psychological and maybe it will take just one big win or one big week to turn that around," the Brit said during a post-match press conference at the Indian Wells Masters.
Thiem will next be in action at the 2023 Estoril Open, which is set to be played on outdoor claycourts. It is to be seen whether a change in the surface will bring a change in fortunes for the 29-year-old.
