John Millman dampened the excitement of Dominic Thiem's return from injury, winning the first-round match at the Serbia Open with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. The Australian outlasted the Austrian in a three-set struggle to move forward in the tournament. For Thiem, this was his first appearance at the tour level since undergoing surgery on his right wrist last June.
There was a time when Thiem was a staple in the world's top five for more than three seasons, but his extended absence from the court has dropped his ranking outside the top 50. Nevertheless, the 28-year-old gave fans a glimpse of his true potential during his fight with Millman. Although he didn't get the result he wanted, battling for over two and a half hours served as a clear signal that he is back in the game.
Despite an aggressive approach to his backhand, Thiem couldn't reach the peak performance level required to overcome his opponent. The Austrian is no stranger to success, boasting 17 tour titles, with a strong preference for clay courts where he has won 10 of those trophies. He had recently warmed up for this event by competing in an ATP Challenger tournament in March.
Millman secured his victory by breaking in the 10th game of the final set, marking his first win in four head-to-head encounters with Thiem. Now, the 32-year-old Australian prepares to face Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic. The stakes are high, as the winner of that second-round bout will earn a quarter-final showdown with Novak Djokovic at the Novak Tennis Centre.
Reflecting on the win, Millman was humble, stating that he wouldn't categorize this as one of his greatest achievements since Thiem is still shaking off the rust from injury. Having endured three surgeries himself, the Australian emphasized that he understands exactly how grueling the process of returning to top form can be.
Millman noted that while it's been a difficult road for Dominic, the tennis world—and specifically the clay-court circuit—is better off with him back in the mix. He also admitted that once Thiem regains full match fitness, he will be a much more formidable opponent.
Looking ahead to his next match, Millman mentioned that Kecmanovic dominated their recent practice session. He praised the Serbian's current form, noting that he's hitting the ball exceptionally well after a strong six-week stretch. While Millman expects a tough fight, he expressed his excitement about testing himself against the younger generation of players.