Dominic Thiem's struggles continued at the Mutua Madrid Open, as he succumbed to a disappointing defeat in qualifying to Thanasi Kokkinakis. The result only served to underscore Thiem's troubling spiral away from his former glory.
In a match where Kokkinakis asserted his dominance, Thiem looked a shadow of the player who reached consecutive finals at the French Open and US Open. The Austrian struggled to find his rhythm, falling 1-6 3-6 to the Australian.
Thiem's defeat marks yet another setback on clay, a surface where he once reigned supreme. With this qualifying loss, he will once again miss out on a Masters 1000 event, a tournament where he has achieved notable success in the past.
As Thiem grapples with his fading form, it remains unclear when or if he can recapture the brilliance that once defined him. For now, his journey back to the top continues to face significant challenges.