"Something you shouldn't say in general just out of respect": Thiem's measured response to Bublik 'I'm sick of giving careers back to disabled people' comment
Kazakhstan’s tennis suffered a defeat in the first round
of the US Open to the 29-year-old in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-2,
6-4 on Monday.
After the match, it was reported that the 26-year-old allegedly
passed a scathing remark about his first-round opponent where he said: “I'm
sick of giving careers back to disabled people.”
Thiem was asked about it during his talk with the media after
the match, but he responded cautiously.
“I don’t know if the translation is right, you know,” he
said. “If it is, then it’s a tough saying. Something you shouldn’t say in
general just out of respect. But maybe he didn’t mean it that way or whatever.
But what can I say about it.”
The victory was important for Thiem as this was his first in the Grand Slam since the 2021 Australian Open.
Since then, the Wiener Neustadt-born suffered six
consecutive exits from the first round of the major events, mainly because of
fitness concerns as he could not recover from multiple injuries and played those
tournaments half-fit.
Thiem will now face America’s Ben Shelton in Wednesday's second-round clash of the US Open.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.