Dominic Thiem and Ons Jabeur slip to first-round defeats in French Open

There was once a time, not very long ago at all, when Dominic Thiem was better placed than anyone else to emerge as the next new champion on these grounds. For four consecutive years, between 2016 and 2019, Thiem marched deep into the French Open draw and only allowed himself to be taken out by the greatest.

He reached two semi-finals and then two finals. He toppled Novak Djokovic twice, including an immense 2019 semi-final played partly in apocalyptic wind across two days. He was brilliant, at some point the second-best clay courter in the world, and for three consecutive years only the greatest of all time on this surface could stop him.

Those recent memories of Thiem at his most physical, dynamic best on the Roland Garros clay, obliterating the ball off both wings without a hint of doubt, make his current state an even more difficult sight. Just two hours into the tournament on Sunday afternoon, Thiem suffered a disappointing and at times hard to watch first-round defeat to Hugo Dellien of Bolivia, who easily beat him 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Since returning from a nine-month injury layoff due to a right wrist injury and various complications, Thiem has now lost all of his seven matches back, winning just two sets between them. His total losing streak, extending back to the period just before his injury when he was already trying to pull himself out of the mental burnout he suffered following his 2020 US Open triumph, stands at 11 defeats in a row.

The clearest issue for Thiem is his forehand, the focal point of his game and the stroke naturally most affected by the right wrist injury. At times he snapped forehands well long early in the point and other times he set up short balls only to miss the easiest shot of the rally.

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