Pospisil had recently launched a foul-mouthed tirade against ATP Chief Andrea Gaudenzi for allegedly admonishing the Canadian at a player meeting during the Miami Open. Along with Novak Djokovic, Vasek Pospisil has long been championing the cause of higher pay for ATP players, which presumably led to his tiff with Gaudenzi.

But Herwig Straka, a member of the ATP Board of Directors and also the Tournament Director for the Vienna Open, believes it would be “economic suicide” if tournaments don’t cut down on prize money. Dominic Thiem’s manager even suggested that players like Vasek Pospisil are needlessly fighting a lost cause without recognizing the economic situation.

Herwig Straka then took an indirect jibe at “some players” - presumably the likes of Vasek Pospisil and Novak Djokovic - by claiming that they are keen on hampering the ATP’s operations to suit their “personal interests”.

Dominic Thiem’s manager pointed out that the ATP is a rare organization where the members (players) have half the weight in all decision-making.

Herwig Straka then offered an arm of support to the PTPA by indicating that the ATP is willing to work with the association - but without granting them a say in the decision-making.

After Australia, Dominic Thiem got a slight mental dent: Herwig Straka

Turning his attention to Dominic Thiem, Herwig Straka gave his reasons for why the reigning US Open champion has seen a drastic dip in form and fortunes this year.

Thiem has suffered four defeats already in 2021, and has failed to get past the quarterfinal stage of any event so far. A persistent foot problem and the long-standing dispute with former coach Gunter Bresnik were believed to be the reasons behind Dominic Thiem’s poor show.

Herwig Straka indicated the same with his comments, and suggested that it is not surprising for a player’s career to briefly go “downhill” after having achieved the biggest success.

But Straka added that Dominic Thiem is mentally and physically on the mend now, as he prepares for his favorite part of the year.

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