KITZBÜHEL, December 22, 2017

Organizers of the Generali Open announced on Friday that Austria’s No. 1 tennis player, Dominic Thiem, will return to the ATP 250 tournament next year. The clay court event will be held from 28 July to 4 August 2018. The 24-year-old skipped his home tournament in 2017 to take early action in preparation for the American hard court swing.

“I’m really looking forward to Kitzbühel. Last year, I made the decision with a heavy heart that I would like to try something different and change to hard court, which did not work out that well,” Thiem told.

Dominc Thiem (photo: GEPA pictures/ Philipp Brem)

The current World No. 5 lost in the second round of the Citi Open in Washington as well as at the ATP Masters 1000 in Montreal. Thiem reached the quarterfinals in Cincinnati and lost to Juan Martin Del Potro in the Round of the last 16 at the US Open.

Earlier in 2017, he swept all 10 sets en route to his second ATP World Tour 500 title and eighth title overall at Rio de Janeiro. Thiem did not drop a set en route to his second straight Roland Garros semi-final.

“Kitzbühel is one of my absolute favorite tournaments. I’m especially looking forward to the atmosphere with a packed centre court. In the last few years, that has almost always been the case.”

Thiem, who broke into Top 5 and achieved a career-high No. 4 in Emirates ATP Rankings last month, has yet to lift the trophy in Kitzbühel.

“I will give my very best to eventually take the title here. That has been my goal for the last three times,” Thiem is looking forward to his comeback.

“It is not self evident that a player being ranked inside the Top 5 is competing at ATP 250 level. His commitment feels like an early christmas present,” tournament director Alexander Antonitsch is happy and a sold out centre court can almost be guaranteed.