Ex-world No.3 Thiem pushes back ATP return

Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem hopes to return to the ATP at Indian Wells in March, after being sidelined since June due to a wrist injury.

Thiem has not played since suffering the injury at the Mallorca Open and the 28-year-old, who has slipped to 37th in the world rankings, was unable to defend his US Open crown last year. He also pulled out of the Australian Open in January.

The former world No.3 had planned to return in Cordoba this week but was forced to withdraw from the tournament after feeling pain in the knuckles on his right hand.

The Austrian said he would be pulling out of tournaments in Argentina, Brazil and Chile, and added he would now aim for a return at Indian Wells, a tournament which he won in 2019.

"Training was going well in Vienna and I am so happy that I've made a full recovery regarding my wrist," Thiem said in a statement. "Unfortunately, I have suffered this minor setback in Santiago, which has forced me to temporarily stop training.

"It's never easy to come back after being away from competition for seven months. I will follow my doctor's advice and after resting a couple of days, I will start training again next week.

"I need some consistent time on-court before making my comeback."

The Indian Wells tournament runs from March 9-20.