Dominic Thiem 'positive' his comeback on right track after injury layoff

Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem believes he is heading in the right direction as he continues his search for his best form after a lengthy injury layoff.

The 29-year-old Austrian was out for nine months with a wrist problem before returning to action last spring.

Previously ranked a career-high No 3 in the world, Thiem lost the first seven matches of his comeback and dropped to as low as 346 in the rankings by July.

After a five-week training block in early summer, Thiem began to find his game and amassed a 23-12 win-loss record across both the Challenger and ATP tours, rising to 102 in the rankings, thanks to semi-final appearances in Gstaad, Gijon and Antwerp.

Currently in Dubai competing in the World Tennis League exhibition event, Thiem believes he’s on the right track.

Despite a narrow defeat to Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime at the WLT on Thursday, he feels he is in a good place as he puts the finishing touches to his game ahead of the start of a new season.

“I have the feeling that I’m going in a good direction. The way is positive for me, the way I’m practising, I’m very happy about it,” Thiem told The National at Dubai’s Coca Cola Arena.

“I think I’m on my way to reach the goals for the off-season, which was to get those last missing percentages. And I feel that I’m playing better, like at the end of the 2022 season, which is a good sign. Coming towards the end of the season, coming closer and closer to the first real matches again and I’m happy about it.”

Thiem admits he started playing tennis again with no expectations last March and that the training block he had after the French Open helped to raise his level and confidence.

“I told myself I have to put a little bit of pressure on myself again, to