Roland-Garros: First win of comeback eludes Thiem as Austrian falls to Dellien in the first round

Thiem goes down in straight sets to Hugo Dellien, who will next meet either Portuguese Nuno Borges or Russian Karen Khachanov in the second round

Dominic Thiem, Roland-Garros 2022 © AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Tennis Majors

May 22, 2022

Former world No 3 Dominic Thiem made an early exit at Roland-Garros, going down to Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien in straight sets in the first round on Sunday.

Dellien defeated Thiem 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in just over two hours to reach the second round of Roland-Garros for the second time in three appearances.

The loss extended Thiem’s losing streak to 0-7 since he made his comeback from a wrist injury in March after nine months on the sidelines, if we merge the Tour level and a challenger.

Thiem runner-up in Paris in 2018 and 2019

The Austrian, who won the 2020 US Open to capture his first Grand Slam title, was making his ninth consecutive appearance in the French Open main draw. While he has been a finalist in 2018 and 2019, the loss marked the second consecutive year that he has been beaten in the first round in Paris.

Thiem has now lost 11 matches in a row (combined on the ATP Tour and Challenger Tour), having also lost the last four matches he played in 2021 before his wrist injury kept him out. HIs last win came at the Italian Open in Rome in 2021. Thiem has won only one set in his six matches this year and has lost 10 in a row.

Dellien, ranked No 87, will play the winner of the match between Portuguese Nuno Borges and Russian Karen Khachanov in the second round.

Paris (Grand Slam): Other first-round results (Stade Roland-Garros, clay)