Dominic Thiem has suffered a disappointing first-round defeat on the Rio Open, falling to Thiago Monteiro 6-1 3-6 6-7 (2-7).
Thiem is as soon as once more combating by means of his matches and having fun with himself, however confidence is admittedly nonetheless missing for the 29-year-old.
The former world No.3 and 2020 US Open champion, who got here in ranked at No.96 after battling proper wrist and stomach accidents, fell to a second loss in three matches this yr. He missed the Australian Open and received his first win final week in Argentina.
“Today was a little bit better than I did in Buenos Aires,” Thiem stated.
“But still when I step in it is too many mistakes. I need to find the right timing again, find myself closer at the baseline again.”
Thiem, who received the Rio Open in 2017, dropped the primary set towards the 83rd-ranked native Monteiro in 27 minutes, with the Austrian making a sequence of unforced errors.
Thiem righted himself within the second set, counting on his forehand and his persistence on the baseline. But after a back-and-forth third set, the Brazilian received the tiebreaker comfortably to shut out the two-hour 46-minute match.
“I was never injured before. I didn’t know how long it would take. It is taking as long as it takes. I am not stressing out,” Thiem stated.
“I have the feeling I was defining myself way too long with results. It is very unhealthy, especially mentally, if I define myself only with results.”
Monteiro will subsequent face both second-seeded Brit Cameron Norrie or Juan Manuel Cerundolo within the clay-court match.
Elsewhere, there have been straight-sets wins for Pedro Martinez, Hugo Dellien and ninth seed Alex Molcan.
Defending champion and second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz faces Mateus Alves within the first spherical on Tuesday.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
