Dominic Thiem says Andy Murray is a 'role model' after gesture at the net following Madrid Open match

Dominic Thiem has described Andy Murray as a “role model” as he looks to return to the top of the game after almost a year away. Former world No. 3 Thiem was beaten 6-3 6-4 by Murray in the first round of the Madrid Open.

Ad/> Thiem was playing his third ATP tournament since returning to the tour after a wrist injury last June. ATP Madrid'Very nice' Murray sportsmanship, Djokovic 'big challenge' — Madrid Open Diary2 HOURS AGO Murray, who has had his own journey back after hip resurfacing surgery in 2019, had words of encouragement for Thiem at the net, saying: “I hope you feel better soon mate. Great to see you back.

Keep going. It takes a lot of time but you’ll be fine.” Thiem is yet to win a match after returning to the tour, losing in the first round in Belgrade, Estoril and now Madrid. “It was very nice, his words at the net, and it is worth even more from someone like him who really went through that recovery process,” said the Austrian.

“He is one of the few who knows how tough it is to come back after a major injury and obviously he is a role model with how he came back with his hip injury.” /> Murray’s return has been far from straightforward and only in the last 10 months has he shown signs of being able to compete with the best on tour again. He is now back into the top 100 in the world rankings and reached the final of the Sydney Classic earlier this year. “It's not easy coming back from such a long time away,” said Murray about Thiem.