Dominic Thiem makes significant but expected schedule changes

For the last couple of years, Dominic Thiem was among the most successful players of the South American February swing, winning four out of 17 ATP titles in those events.

Cordoba, Buenos Aires, Santiago and Acapulco will form another Golden swing in February and March, but the US Open champion will not fight for titles. As was expected, world no. 3 has decided to skip the long trip and compete in Doha, Dubai and Miami after the Australian Open.

In 2016, Thiem won Buenos Aires and Acapulco, followed by Rio de Janeiro a year later, his only title in 2017. The Austrian conquered Buenos Aires in 2018 but couldn't repeat that in 2019 and 2020 despite playing at three events.

Dominic is currently in Adelaide, serving a two-week quarantine and preparing for the ATP Cup and the Australian Open. Last year in Melbourne, the Austrian led two sets to one against Novak Djokovic in the title clash before suffering a heartbreaking five-set loss.

Leaving that setback behind, Thiem claimed the first Major title at the US Open in September, overcoming two sets to love deficit against Alexander Zverev in the title clash to prevail in the deciding tie break and embrace a Major glory. The Austrian finished the previous season inside the top-3 for the first time, and he wants to win another Major title in 2021, maybe already in Melbourne.