Tim starts the new season with two nerve-wracking successes

After a year that saw some ups and downs, Dominic Thiem has fortunately started the new season with two wins. The former world number three reached the main competition at the Brisbane International presented by Effie on New Year's Eve. The fifth-seeded Lower Austrian (ATP 98) beat 12th-seeded Italian Giulio Ziberi (ATP 135) 3:6, 6:4 after a battle that lasted about 2:31 hours in the second and final qualifying round at the ATP 250. Northeast Hard Court Championships Australia 6:4. The 30-year-old's opponent in the main draw will not be determined until after the preliminary round.

At the start of Saturday, Thiem beat 20-year-old Australian local champion James McCabe (ATP 272) 2:6, 7:6 (4), 6:4 after 2:52 hours of play and was 3:5 in the second set. 40:0 When his opponent served, he blocked three match points in a row. The match was stopped unusually after the first set because a highly venomous snake approached the spectators and the ball boys in a threatening manner. In the first duel with Zibieri, Thiem had to do hard work again the next day, but he once again managed to hold his nerve after falling behind in the set. In the second and third rounds, Lichtenwörthern only managed to get the decisive break in the tenth and final game. In the past, the match was on the brink, especially in the second set at minutes 3:3, 15:40, 4:4, and 30:40, from Tim’s point of view.

The first event of the season in Brisbane serves Tim as preparation for the Australian Open in Melbourne. In the first Grand Slam of the new year, Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh's protégé, as things currently stand, will have to compete in next week's qualifiers. However, if another player cancels before him, he will drop to the main competition and instead play the invitational tournament in Melbourne's Kooyong District next week.