Dominic Thiem played 27 tournaments in 2016. No other man who finished in the top 10 suited up for more than 21. Thiem played 82 matches in 2016. By comparison, Andy Murray contested only five more matches than the Austrian even though the top-ranked Scot reached the final of just about every event he played starting in July.
Clearly exhausted throughout the second half of the season, Thiem went 11-13 in his last 24 matches. He had compiled an awesome 47-11 record in his first 58 outings, a stretch that saw him capture all four of his 2016 titles. Despite those numbers that make it obvious he should play less in 2017, Thiem may not learn from his mistakes.
“If I would have played less, I wouldn’t be here at the (World Tour) Finals,” Thiem said at one of his London press conferences. “This was one of the reasons why I’m here, because I was playing a lot…. Maybe I will play a little less (in 2017), but also maybe not.”
Based on the 23-year-old’s early-season schedule, it’s looking like not. Nothing about his January-February-March list suggests he will cut down on his tennis in 2017. Thiem will play the opening week in Brisbane (and even playing doubles, too, with Kei Nishikori) before getting in a second Australian Open warm-up event at Sydney’s Apia International. The year’s first Grand Slam is immediately thereafter. Thiem’s first three months also include Sofia, Rotterdam, Acapulco, Indian Wells, and Miami.
Week 1 – Brisbane International starting 1/3/17
Week 2 – Apia International starting 1/11/17
Week 3/4 – Australian Open starting 1/18/17
Week 5 – Sofia Open starting 2/1/17
Week 6 – ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament starting 2/8/17
Week 7 – No tournament
Week 8 – Mexican Open starting 2/22/17
Week 10 – No tournament (not playing Davis Cup)
Week 11/12 – Indian Wells Masters starting 3/10/17
Week 12/13 – Miami Masters starting 3/23/17
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