"Ideal when our talents can compete with stars" - Dominic Thiem's father on Iga Swiatek's visit to his academy
French Open champion Iga Swiatek recently visited the new Austrian Tennis Committee (ATC) academy being run by Dominic Thiem's father Wolfgang. This was the first public appearance of the 19-year-old tennis sensation after completing self-isolation due to close contact with the Polish President Andrzej Duda, who tested positive for coronavirus last month.
Swiatek got a chance to hit with a few players at the academy, including young Austrian hope Patrick Jozwicki. Swiatek and Jozwicki had a longer training session, exchanging groundstrokes for a considerable amount of time.
The Pole was on her way to Salzburg for athletic tests when she made the spontaneous visit.
Swiatek later revealed that she really liked her experience at the academy. Dominic Thiem's father Wolfgang, meanwhile, expressed happiness that his players got a chance to hit with the Major winner
"Ideal when our talents can compete with stars," Wolfgang said.
Dominic Thiem plans to use the ATC academy as his base for 10 weeks a year
The academy was inaugurated last month and has three Rebound Ace courts at the moment. In 2021, three clay courts will also be installed at the academy, followed by another outdoor hardcourt.
World No. 3 Dominic Thiem had a training session at the time of the inauguration, with three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka.
Thiem plans to use the academy as his base for about 10 weeks a year. Dennis Novak, Lucas Miedler, Jurij Rodionov, Sebastian Ofner and Alex Erler will also train there, which means the cream of Austria's talent will be using the academy.
The World No. 3 has decided not to play at this week's ATP Paris Masters after he suffered a blister issue at last week's Vienna Open. Thiem is expected to play at the season-ending ATP Finals in London, where the eight best players of the season will compete from November 15.