Jan 15, 2024; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Dominic Thiem of Austria plays a shot against Felix Auger Aliassime (not pictured) of Canada in Round 1 of the Men's Singles on Day 2 of the Australian Open tennis at Rod Laver Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo
(Reuters) - Former U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem said this season is his "last chance" to get back to playing at a level he expects of himself and climb back up the world rankings after dropping down the order due to injuries.
The 30-year-old former world number three struggled to get back to top form after suffering a wrist injury in 2021, which sidelined him for months, and the Austrian fell out of the top 300 in 2022.
The twice French Open finalist finished 2023 ranked 98th in the world, and while he hoped to continue his rise with a decent run at the Australian Open, he bowed out in the first round.
"I see this as my last chance. If I make it, it can happen quickly," Thiem told Austrian daily Der Standard on Tuesday.
"I've been back for two years now since the injury, and I finished 2022 on 100 or so and last year on 98. If I finish the year on 100 again, you have to think about whether it's still worth it.
"I've been in rankings for two years now that I don't want to be in. Of course that weighs on me ... I've been chasing the feeling of really being able to play tennis in a match again for a long time. And the way I expect myself to."
Thiem also said he had parted ways with long-time coach Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
