Thiem reveals right foot problem following loss to Rublev in Vienna: "It has been causing me problems at indoor tournaments for years"

Defending champion Dominic Thiem was ousted from the Erste Bank Open Vienna on Friday, as he fell to Russian Andrey Rublev in straight sets.

The Austrian was hoping to extend his 11-match winning streak on home soil, having captured the titles in Vienna and Kitzbühel last year. However, after losing the first set in a close tiebreak, Thiem was less competitive in the second as Rublev prevailed with a 7-6(5) 6-2 victory.

Although Thiem refrained from getting any medical treatment during the match, he hinted at an injury as his movements were delayed and lacked his signature explosion. The World No.3 revealed after the match that he was in fact struggling with an ailment on his right foot.

"This has been causing me problems at the indoor tournaments for years," Thiem disclosed. "The rough covering and the slab construction are poison for me."

The US Open champion added that he has been dealing with the condition for years but is yet to discover a permanent solution to this ailment.

"We work on it every day, but on the right foot there's incredible pressure when you slip into the balls and it gets worse from game to game."