No Australian Open for Dominic Thiem, but a return in January
The 2020 US Open champion is "practicing normally with a very good intensity," but will avoid pushing his return until the end of the month—on clay.
WATCH: Dominic Thiem breaks down backhands during his analysis of the 2021 US Open
Dominic Thiem will begin his 2021 season in late January, but in Argentina, rather than Australia.
The 2020 US Open champion, who finished runner-up in Melbourne earlier than year, tweeted that he'll make his return to action at the Cordoba Open, a 250-level clay-court tournament scheduled to begin on January 31.
Currently ranked No. 15, Thiem played just 18 matches in 2021 due to a right wrist injury, and hasn't competed on tour since mid-June in Mallorca. He is currently on a four-match losing streak that dates back to the Rome Masters in mid-May.
In missing the Australian Open, Thiem will lose 1,200 ranking points and drop expected to fall outside of the Top 40.