Dominic Thiem continues his recovery path from the long ordeal that kept him in the box for more than a year. The Austrian, eliminated by Cilic in Tel Aviv and who will now participate in the home tournament in Vienna, has exalted young stars such as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Frances Tiafoe, who in his opinion have brought tennis to a higher level.

Thiem explained: “Players like Alcaraz, Sinner or Tiafoe have changed tennis. They play very fast and have elevated this sport to a new level.” The Austrian then launches a provocation citing the Big-3 Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic: “Compared to them, the Big-3 were almost defensive or cautious.

This change certainly affects the other players, who must see themselves able to change their game scheme a little every time they play against them.”

Sinner: “Federer? What a pity not to have faced it”

Jannik Sinner is now widely regarded as one of the most talented players on the Tour.

The Italian, together with Carlos Alcaraz, is seen as one of the eligible candidates to take over the glorious legacy of the Big-3, the three athletes who have made the history of sport recently. Sinner’s 2022 has experienced alternating phases, but now the Italian number 1 wants to confirm himself in the Sofia tournament, clearly his favorite tournament that has seen him triumph for two consecutive editions.

Jannik has played a flawless tournament so far and reached the semi-finals of the tournament. Now, on his path, the two most important obstacles are ready and in the penultimate act the Danish Holger Rune awaits him. At the press conference, Jannik responded on many issues, from the retirement of Roger Federer to the possibilities of Italy in the Davis Cup.

Here are his words: “Roger Federer’s retirement? He is a tennis player that I have never faced, I am sorry that he has retired from tennis and this is something that only I do not think. I saw his last match and it was a very emotional thing.

There were all the tennis players he shared his career with, his coaches and his family. It was an emotional farewell for him and for so many people who witnessed it. In the end, when I entered the circuit, he was already stopped due to physical problems and I never had the chance to face him. It would have been nice to challenge him at least once, it was a real shame.”