Thiem delays comeback after not being ready to compete at highest level yet

The former world No 3 has delayed his return and pulled out of this week’s Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi

Austria's Dominic Thiem reacts during his fourth round match against Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov at the Australian Open

Haresh Ramchandani

December 15, 2021

Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem has delayed his comeback after pulling out of the Mubadala World Tennis Championships on Tuesday, saying he is not ready to compete at the highest level just yet.

In a statement he released on social media, Thiem said, “I was looking forward to making my return to competition at Abu Dhabi but I feel that I am yet not ready to compete at the highest level. It’s disappointing to not take part this year but I need to continue my preparation for the upcoming season. I truly hope to return to the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in the future.”

Thiem had been suffering from a wrist injury since June and had been working hard to return to the circuit in recent weeks, feeling positive about his return. It remains to be seen if Thiem will be ready to play in Australia in early January. The Austrian is entered to play in the ATP Cup which kicks off in Sydney on January 1, 2022.

After 2 months of hard work and preparing for the new season it's finally time to chase the sun ☀️✈️#technogym @Technogym_AUT pic.twitter.com/a2HScJ1dyd
— Dominic Thiem (@domithiem) December 4, 2021

The 28-year-old Austrian has not played on the tour since pulling out of his first round match against Adrian Mannarino in Mallorca, Spain in early June.

Thiem is the third player to pull-out of the high profile exhibition event after Norway’s Casper Ruud and Britain’s Emma Raducanu. They will be replaced in the draw by Britain’s Dan Evans, American Taylor Fritz on the men’s side and Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur on the women’s side.