Former US Open champion and world No.3 Dominic Thiem, has finally settled back into winning ways following wrist surgery and a stuttering comeback, to reach his first semi-finals in 14 months at the EFG Swiss Open in Gstaad, Switzerland, by defeating Peru’s Juan Pablo Varillas, a qualifier, in straight sets.
Tomorrow I can go into the match free, trying to do my best," the 28-year-old added. "When I travelled to Bastad last week, I didn't expect to reach the quarter finals there and then the semi-finals here. Dominic Thiem
The Austrian, a former Gstaad champion (2015) won 6-4 6-3 after one-hour, 47-minutes and will next face the second seeded Matteo Berrettini who eventually got past Spain’s Pedro Martinez 3-6 76(5) 6-1 and, after losing his first six tour matches on his return to the tour, would love to make his first final since the ATP Finals in 2020.
” I played a good match yesterday and I was able to back it up today. I failed to serve out at (5-2 in the first set), but it was also the nerves a little bit because it is my first semi-final in one and a half years,” said Thiem, who is rebuilding his confidence having also made the last eight in Bastad, Sweden, last week.
“I need the points to go back up the rankings. I was happy I was able to break the nerves.”
Thiem, currently ranked 274th but now set to return to the top 200 when the new rankings are released on Monday, is targeting his 8th ATP title this weekend.
“Tomorrow I can go into the match free, trying to do my best,” the 28-year-old added. “When I travelled to Bastad last week, I didn’t expect to reach the quarter finals there and then the semi-finals here.
“It is really, really good and I am happy with the progress.”
In the other semi-final, the top seeded Casper Ruud from Norway is playing Spain’s fourth seeded Albert Ramos Vinolas, after both struggled past their respective quarter final opponents – Ruud defeating Spain’s Jaume Munar 7-6(5) 7-6(4) while Ramos Vinolas edged past qualifier Nicolas Jarry of Chile 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(8)).
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