Grand slam gatecrasher Dominic Thiem has no plans on easing his way into the 2021 season, saying he hopes to be in full flight from the get-go this summer.
Thiem, the world No.3 and reigning US Open champion, will lead Austria in ATP Cup battle against Italy on Tuesday and won’t be conserving any energy for the Australian Open starting next Monday.
“No, I think we all try to be in the top gear from the first point tomorrow on,” he said.
“First of all, we have super strong opponents so we need our top gear to have a chance to win.
“As well, the faster we get into the top gear, the better it is. You just cannot calculate like this, to start a little bit slower in the ATP Cup, then be on the top in the Australian Open.
“It doesn’t work like that. The best would be to be hundred per cent from tomorrow.”
Thiem succumbed to Novak Djokovic in a drama-charged five-set final at last year’s Australian Open.
But in breaking through to capture his maiden major crown in New York last September, having also lost, two French Open title deciders to Rafael Nadal, the 27-year-old broke the 14-slam streak of Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer.
“Of course, I try to repeat the success of 2020 and also 2019. Was amazing years,” Thiem said.
“But there’s never a guarantee for that. I mean, in a grand slam tournament or ATP Cup, all the big tournaments, the whole draw is super strong, so never a guarantee to go deep or to win a title.
“I’ll try everything to do it. I had, again, quite a good preparation so I will try to have a good start at the ATP Cup, then also in the Australian Open.”
The 27-year-old has a challenging opener against Matteo Berrettini, the world No.10 who has split his four previous meetings with Thiem.
“Towards the end of 2019 we had three amazing matches in deep stages of big tournaments, high quality,” Thiem said.
“Looking forward to playing him again. We have a very good relationship, always fun matches against each other.
“But he’s a big, big player, so I’m also not too happy that he’s the first guy I have to face in a new year after quite a while without an official match. It’s going to be interesting.”
Australia and Djokovic’s defending champion Serbs, up against Canada, are also in action on day one of the ATP Cup.
Djokovic, also the Australian Open titleholder, faces Denis Shapovalov in his season opener while Alex de Minaur and John Millman will lead Australia against Nadal’s 2020 runners-up Spain.
De Minaur plays Nadal in a Tuesday night blockbuster and repeat of his three-set ATP Cup semi-final loss to the 20-times grand slam champion last year.
Millman meets 2019 Wimbledon semi-finalist Roberta Bautista-Agut, with Australia very much the underdogs.
In Tuesday’s other tie, Russia, with two top-tenners in Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, take on Argentina.