Festival of Tennis announces Dominic Thiem for Heineken Open

NZ Festival of Tennis announces rising star, Dominic Thiem for Heineken Open

Adding to its strongest field to date, organisers of the Heineken Open have today announced that Austrian rising star, Dominic Thiem (37) has been confirmed for the 2015 tournament.

Thiem has had a breakthrough year, rising 100 spots in the rankings to 37 in the world – the youngest player ranked inside the world’s Top 50.

“Dominic is certainly a player of the future. I have no doubt that he will be in the Top 10 within the next couple of years,” says Tournament Director, Karl Budge.

The six-foot Austrian made it through to the third round of the Australian Open (his first ATP 500 event) beating Jarkko Nieminen in the first round, and splitting sets with Andy Murray in the second.

Pushing one of the big four gave Thiem great confidence, setting up an eye-catching clay court season. He made the round of 16 in both Barcelona and Madrid, where he beat world number 3 Stanislas Warwrinka in the third round – making him the youngest player to record a Top 3 scalp since Juan Martin Del Potro in 2009.

In July this year, he broke into the Top 50 of the ATP singles rankings; and in August, went on to contest his first ATP World Tour final at Kitzbuhel (l. to Goffin).

September saw him rise eight spots to a career-high 36, after reaching the fourth round of the US Open, where he beat training partner and fellow Heineken Open 2015 player, Ernests Gulbis en route.

“Thiem will likely be dubbed ATP newcomer of the year, this year. He has had a breakthrough season and has been labelled a future Grand Slam champion,” says Budge.

Thiem joins what is already an impressive Heineken Open line up consisting of five players ranked inside the world’s Top 20 – top seed David Ferrer (6), Ernests Gulbis (13), defending champion John Isner (16), Kevin Anderson (17) and Gael Monfils (20).

Heineken Open | 12 - 17 January, 2015
ASB Tennis Arena in Auckland

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