Thiem looking to reach higher goals in 2020 by adding coach Muster

Dominic Thiem is tapping Thomas Muster as a coach, saying his fellow Austrian and former No. 1 can help him to win a Grand Slam.

Thiem will keep working with his current coach, Nicolas Massu, but will also have Muster at several events during the season.

The 26-year-old has reached two Slam finals, both at the French Open, won his first Masters title at Indian Wells, and reached the finals of the ATP Finals. Now, he wants to take the next step.

"I think that there are many things that I can still improve. And then of course Thomas is best player of Austria and all time by far, is the only one who achieved the goals I'm still having," Thiem told press at the ATP Cup.

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''I still haven't achieved the goals I set for myself, and I really want to do everything to achieve them, to achieve at the highest goal you can get to in tennis. He's the only Austrian who achieved that so far, so I think there is nobody who can help me more.

"So we're going to do 20 weeks this year, and I think we are both looking forward to that. Try to achieve very high goals.''

The pair have been working together occasionally for a few months and enjoyed their coaching partnership as part of Muster's captaincy of the Austrian ATP Cup team led by Thiem.

Muster, a former French Open champion, sees a lot of potential in his new pupil.

"He has the chances to win Grand Slams. We know that. He has the ability to do that, and I wouldn't have done that for anybody else. I have been asked many times to coach people on the tour," said Muster, adding, "If I can achieve with him to be No. 1 and to win a Grand Slam, he's the only one I ever would have done it for, because to have an Austrian who has that opportunity, I mean, you have to kind of commit yourself."

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Thiem will now begin practicing for the Australian Open with Muster officially on his team, and says he is in a good position despite Austria's defeat in the round robin portion of the ATP Cup.

"I still need to get some practices in. I think that physically I'm in great shape," he said. "But it's just a matter of matches, just a matter of good practices. I'm going to have them, and if I'm going to get eight, nine good days in, I think I'm full ready for Melbourne because everything is there."

Thiem is fourth in the rankings.