Thiem, regarded as one of the most popular players on the tour, was blessed with a picture-book backhand, but also a devastating forehand, which he says often did more damage.

Thiem’s next opportunity came at 7-6; he double-faulted. “I was, like, so tight in my whole body,” Thiem said. The third was at 9-8, when he pushed a down-the-line forehand wide.

PARIS (AP) — It all used to come so easily for Dominic Thiem on a tennis court — his powerful forehand, his elegant backhand, his hit-which-shot-when calculations, all fine-tuned to the point ...

Thiem’s next opportunity to win came at 7-6, but he double-faulted. “I was, like, so tight in my whole body,” Thiem said. The third was at 9-8, when he pushed a down-the-line forehand wide.

Dominic Thiem plays a forehand return to Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during their men’s singles match on day one of the Paris ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament in Octomber. AFP via Getty Images ...

PARIS — It all used to come so easily for Dominic Thiem on a tennis court — his powerful forehand, his elegant backhand, his hit-which-shot-when calculations, all fine-tuned to the point of a ...

Again, a head shake. On the sixth point, a forehand return sailed well long. That initial set ended with Thiem putting a forehand into the net, followed by a backhand into the net.