"I will play Lyon next week, and there I can adjust some things on my game"
Thursday 24 May 2018 14:51, UK
Dominic Thiem is feeling optimistic ahead of the French Open, despite his early Rome exit to Italian Fabio Fognini on Wednesday.
Sixth seed Thiem crashed out just a week after inflicting a first clay-court defeat on Rafael Nadal in over a year in Madrid.
The 24-year-old destroyed his racket in fury as he suffered his first loss to Fognini in three meetings, sinking 6-4 1-6 6-3.
But the Austrian says he is optimistic about putting together a good run at Roland Garros, which starts on May 27, and where Thiem has reached the semi-finals in the past two years.
"My feelings are good, I'm playing well," Thiem told a press conference at the Foro Italico. "I was fighting well from the first to the last ball. I will play Lyon next week, and there I can adjust some things on my game. I can have some more practice days. And, hopefully, some more matches.
"But, in general, I feel good for Paris.
"The draw here was also shocking for me. I mean, to play Fognini the first round, it's really tough. I hope in Paris I will have a little bit longer time to come into the tournament."
Thiem says it will not be an issue playing one week before the start of the French Open and will spend the time making a few tweaks while trying to build some momentum at the same time.
"I had good experience as with playing the week before Roland Garros two years ago; I won Nice. I went into the semis the same year. So, it's fine," he added.
"I hope I can get some good matches. The tournament is very strong, so there are gonna be good battles against great players. So, I think it's a good thing that I played here."
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