He lamented his performance on Thursday against Medvedev, which saw him drop his sixth consecutive match against Top-10 players.
“I don’t get enough break chances against top players,” he said. “Then I’m under so much pressure when I serve that it’s no longer enough.”
Despite the bitter end, it has been a steady incline for Thiem over the last few months. He is playing much closer to his top form as the season comes to a close. Just a few weeks ago, he talked of his game with growing confidence.
“Since Bastad, I have the feeling that I can compete with the best again,” he said. “I feel like I’m ready for these tournaments. In the end, you have to be careful when choosing where to use the protected ranking.”
Asked if he sees himself fighting for Slam titles in the future, Thiem said he has the belief.
“I have the belief that I can do it. If not, I would give up my career,” he said. “I was at the top, among the top three in the ranking. And I do have the feeling that I am capable of fighting again for the big titles, for the Slams, and to beat anyone. Otherwise, all this hard work would be meaningless to me. I hope next year I can do it.”
