By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday March 24, 2022
The long awaited return of Dominic Thiem is officially imminent. The 2020 US Open champion and two-time Roland-Garros finalist has announced that he’ll be playing the Marbella Challenger next week in Spain.
“I will be playing this upcoming week a tournament in Marbella, Spain,” Thiem posted on Instagram. “I want to start getting contact with the competition after all these months and I believe this is the right way to start.”
Thiem cut his season short last season after injuring his wrist at Mallorca in June. He was able to avoid having surgery on the wrist, but has since suffered a hand injury that kept him from starting his comeback at Indian Wells this spring. The former World No.3 has dropped to 50 in the ATP rankings.
“It's been a very, very tough period for me and to go back to competition is what I need,” Thiem said. “To step on a tennis court and compete is what I have been waiting for so long and as you know I had a lot of set backs. I know this will be a slow process of getting back to the top level, but I am ready to work hard and start humble.”
Thiem will be joined by Stan Wawrinka in the draw, Wawrinka, now 232 in the rankings, has not competed since Doha in March of 2021. The 36-year-old underwent two left foot surgeries in 2021.
Marbella will also feature ATP rising stars Holger Rune and Jaume Munar, as well as veterans Pablo Andujar, Marco Cecchinato, Pablo Cuevas, Jiri Vesely and more.