PARIS — Interviewing Dominic Thiem’s grizzled coach, Gunter Bresnik, was, as usual, an edifying experience on Thursday. But it was also a bit unsettling.
No sooner had Bresnik mentioned the Romanian impresario Ion Tiriac’s effect on his life when Tiriac appeared in person in a Panama hat, exchanging pleasantries and prematch counsel on the eve of Thiem’s French Open semifinal against Rafael Nadal on Friday.
No sooner had Bresnik talked about his coaching 26 players who reached the top 100 through the years when the former French star Henri Leconte, one of those pupils, also stopped by Bresnik’s table in the players’ lounge.