Austrian Dominic Thiem, who has failed to win a match at any of the tournaments he has played since his wrist injury comeback in March, made 42 unforced errors as he lost 6-3 6-2 6-4 to Bolivian world No 87 Hugo Dellien in just over two hours at Roland Garros
Sunday 22 May 2022 22:37, UK
Twice French Open finalist Dominic Thiem crashed out in the first round at Roland Garros, losing 6-3 6-2 6-4 to Bolivian world No 87 Hugo Dellien, while teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz steamrolled his way through.
Austrian Thiem, who has failed to win a match at any of the tournaments he has played since his wrist injury comeback in March, made 42 unforced errors as his once dominant clay-court game deserted him.
"It was not a good match at all but it is what it is," said Thiem, who was ranked third in the world in 2021 compared to his current 194th.
"I knew it would take time and the level is extremely high. It is going to take a few more months until I say now I am ready to beat those guys again."
The 28-year-old struggled with his forehand throughout the match and said it was now time to compete in lower-tier tournaments to get match wins under his belt.
"The problem is in practice it is really decent but a match situation is something different, Grand Slam especially. I am definitely thinking to go back to Challenger level for one or two tournaments," he said.
"I am more tight, more nervous and the whole body gets more tight. This is toxic to my forehand because I am still missing the fine feeling there," he said.
Dellien, comfortable on the surface after battling through the qualifiers to reach the main draw in all five clay-court tournaments preceding Paris, did not have to wait long for his chance.
He earned his first break point in Thiem's opening service game and broke him on his second to race through the first set.
Two quick breaks in the second wrapped it up for Dellien, with Thiem, who injured his wrist in Mallorca in 2021 and required surgery, struggling to find any consistency throughout the match.
Spaniard Alcaraz steamrolled past Argentine lucky loser Juan Ignacio Londero 6-4 6-2 6-0 to kick off his campaign in solid fashion.
The 19-year-old sixth seed, who won in Barcelona and Madrid in the run-up to Roland Garros, adjusted nicely to Court Philippe Chatrier to set up a meeting with fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
"I always say that you have to improve every day if you are the best player in the world. Not in my case," he said.
"But for example, Rafa (Nadal) says every day that he always improves every day. I would say I have to improve everything a little bit. You can improve everything every day, you know. And I would say everything. I have to improve everything."
German third seed Alexander Zverev produced a clinical performance in a 6-2 6-4 6-4 win against Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner.
Canadian ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime fought back from two sets down to beat Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas 2-6 2-6 6-1 6-3 6-3 and move into the second round.
American John Isner converted only one break point but won three tiebreaks in his first-round match against Quentin Halys to advance with a 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (8-6) victory.
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