'Dominic Thiem needs different approach, his team has to help,' said Boris Becker

Things can change quickly in a professional athlete's life, no matter how good you seem to be at one point and how bright the future looks.

Half a year since the start of the pandemic in 2020, Dominic Thiem stood at the top of the men's tennis world following that thrilling US Open crown.

Dominic Thiem stood at the top of the men's tennis last September following the first Major crown at the US Open and that remarkable comeback against Alexander Zverev. The Austrian had a chance to finish the season in the top-2 for the first time and claim the ATP Finals crown, failing on both tasks and starting to struggle ahead of 2021. Thiem couldn't deal with the new tennis reality and all the rules they have to follow in the bubble, winning only five matches this year and skipping two big tournaments after early exits in Doha and Dubai.

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Struggling with injuries and finding no motivation to compete, the Austrian skipped Miami, Monte Carlo and Belgrade, staying away from everything related to tennis and hoping to recharge batteries ahead of Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros. Multiple Major winner Boris Becker says it is a wrong approach, as we never heard anything about that kind of pressure from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. The German urges Thiem's team to make him a believer again.

"Dominic Thiem's staff has to make it clear to him: 'Boy, you are one of the top favorites in Paris.' At 27, Dominic is in the prime of tennis, but he needs a different approach to deal with the pressure more efficiently. I have never heard the word 'pressure' from the mouths of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic - although they should have some permanent pressure after everything they have achieved. If you've won your first Major tournament, you've tasted blood, and you are ready for more success," Boris Becker said.