'It's really tough' - Dominic Thiem needs time on road to recovery, as Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka can testify

As Dominic Thiem continues his comeback from a wrist injury that sidelined him for 10 months, the Austrian is dealing with a wide range of emotions; from feeling frustrated by his current form to being positive about the improvements he is making every day. One thing Thiem is relying on is his belief that worst part of this whole experience is fully behind him. Ad/> “What everybody is telling me, also from my team, is that the toughest period is done.

Because the toughest period was definitely the process after I started to play again,” Thiem said in Madrid last week after losing his opener to Andy Murray. ATP Rome'A new car always looks better' — Nadal admits Alcaraz provides a welcome upgrade3 HOURS AGO “It was only setbacks. Go on the court, leaving five minutes after, calling the doctor, calling the wrist specialist, the hand specialist, then start to practice 25 minutes, 30 minutes.

“That was the toughest part. And now, of course, not playing well when I know what I’m capable of or what I was capable of, it’s really tough, but I always need to keep telling myself that the toughest time is behind and now we’re talking about tennis things. “We don’t ask every five minutes if I have pain, if the wrist is fine.

We’re only talking about improving my tennis and that’s very positive and this I have to keep in mind for another while I guess.” Staying positive Since he returned to tennis for his first tournament – a Challenger in Marbella – end of March, Thiem has lost all four matches he has contested. In Madrid, he lost to Murray in straight sets before shifting his focus to Rome, where he takes on home favourite Fabio Fognini on Monday evening. “There was improvement but at the same time obviously big frustration as