Dominic Thiem confirms rib injury, racing to be fit for Davis Cup

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Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 17, 2023 Dominic Thiem of Austria in the first round against Andrey Rublev of Russia REUTERS/Carl Recine

Dominic Thiem has confirmed he suffered a rib injury during the Australian Open, but will look to recover for the Davis Cup qualifiers which start next month.

Thiem, a former US Open champion, has struggled with injuries in recent years and is ranked 98th in the world.

The 29-year-old Austrian received a wildcard at the Australian Open where he lost in the first round in straight sets to fifth seed Andrey Rublev after injuring a rib muscle while serving.

“Unfortunately, the year didn’t start the way I wanted. Especially in Melbourne, I wanted to perform at my best, but I tore a small muscle fiber in my rib,” Thiem said on Instagram.

“The results show that it’s not too bad, and we can play in the Davis Cup. I will try everything in the coming weeks to be fit and train well.

Austria plays a Davis Cup qualifier against Croatia on February 4-5.