Dominic Thiem: US Open title worth same even without Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer

World No. 3 Dominic Thiem insists the Cincinnati Masters draw is still super strong even without Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in it. 

Nadal opted not to travel to the United States over coronavirus concerns, while Federer underwent a season-ending knee surgery.

"As I said before, the draw is still super, super strong. There were many tournaments, as well, in previous years where there was no Rafa, where there was no Roger," Thiem said.

"Well, it doesn't really matter if they are competing here or not. The title is worth the same. Of course the other circumstances, no fans, no special energy, not many people on-site, not a normal lifestyle of a tournament, of a Grand Slam tournament. So that's the huge difference.

Thiem wasn't afraid of traveling to the United States 

Thiem suggests whoever wins this year's US Open, it will be deservedly despite the absences of Nadal and Federer.

Thiem's best result at the US Open came in 2018, when he made the quarterfinal before he was edged out by Nadal in five sets.

"Honestly, I'm zero percent nervous or scared about traveling here. I think we are safer than anywhere else on the whole planet in this whole bubble here," Thiem said.

"It's different. The one who wins the title here definitely deserves it, and players-wise or draw-wise, it's worth the same like every year, because there already were years Roger or Rafa were not playing because of injuries or some other stuff.

"But it's not the same in kind of the crowd, the whole energy that the crowd gives in terms of the lifestyle of a normal slam, because it's super exhausting, as well, living the normal life besides a slam, so that makes it different, I guess, being in the bubble.

"But at the end, in 20, 30 years, Grand Slam winner will be a Grand Slam winner no matter what the circumstances were.

Thiem played lots of exhibition matches over the last two months but acknowledged the real action starts now.

"Maybe it's a little advantage, but exhibition match is still exhibition match. I played 28 of them, and not one single of them felt like a normal tour match.

"So of course it was great to play them, great to compete with the other guys, but there is just not the tension, just not the full concentration like there is on a normal tour match.

"So I guess everybody starts at zero here in Cincinnati."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2FQ8QPx