Dominic Thiem’s profession might be divided into two elements. The previous Austrian participant was a high participant for a few years and in addition posed a critical menace to legends akin to Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, to whom he inflicted a number of defeats in main tournaments.
Thiem had a really highly effective play from the baseline and was in a position to put anybody in bother, particularly on his beloved crimson clay. The Austrian reached the height of his profession in 2020, when he lastly received a Grand Slam title on the US Open by defeating Sascha Zverev in a tension-ridden closing.
After that triumph in New York, it appeared that Dominic’s profession may change into much more memorable and stuffed with successes. Nevertheless, destiny was mocking with the previous Prime 10. That massive effort to win his first and solely Main title was deadly for Thiem, who struggled to seek out the precise motivation once more and in addition suffered from despair within the following 12 months.
Dominic Thiem© Erste Financial institution Open/Instagram – Truthful Use
A critical wrist damage basically ended his profession on the highest stage. The 2020 US Open champion has tried in each technique to change into aggressive once more, however his previous few years have been a heartbreak.
‘Domi’ remained very removed from the degrees he was used to, he not felt the identical sensations as prior to now and needed to struggle to win some matches even in Challenger tournaments. For these causes, Thiem determined to retire this 12 months in entrance of his followers in Vienna. His final match was not memorable, as he was eradicated instantly by Luciano Darderi.
Thiem will play in Caen
‼️La légende THIEM à l’Open de Caen‼️
Nous sommes très heureux d’accueillir pour la première fois sur notre courtroom de l’Open de Caen, Dominic Thiem.🎾 Actuellement 17 titres en sa possession, dont 1 en Grasp 1000 et 5 ATP 500. pic.twitter.com/4Xl5cyUEUr
— Open de Caen (@OpenCaen) November 26, 2024
Gasquet shall be Dominic’s first opponent on Monday 9 December at 19 (native time). The winner of this match will face the French Humbert the subsequent day. Gasquet’s profession can be very near its conclusion, because the French veteran will play his final match on the 2025 French Open.
On a latest version of ‘A New Way of Being’ podcast, the previous World No.3 mentioned his journey into skilled tennis: “I was living way too much in disillusion. I was like, I’m going to be happy if I win this title. Playing tennis and playing on the tour will be easier forever.
I was living way too much in disillusion when I won the US Open. It worked for like four or five weeks as I played in euphoria, and also the ATP finals, I played like I was in euphoria.
Then after that, I realized, actually, nothing, nothing changed. This ecstasy stopped after the finals when I went on holiday and when I came to relax a bit.
Then, all the high was gone. Then there, there came a really difficult period, because then, I mean, all those emotions, all those high activities in my head, they were just gone.”
Thiem additionally added: “In some years or in some decades, probably nobody will really be interested in who won a Grand Slam in the year 2020 or who won the Premier League in the year 2010.
It’s very tough, but sometimes I really have to tell this to myself to see the bigger picture and to have like or to take all the other things apart.
So that’s very important, I think, as well, to never lose, like the big picture out of sight.”
Many regrets
Many marvel how a lot Dominic may have received if he hadn’t had that critical wrist damage, which not allowed him to play his finest tennis. It might have been good to see Thiem compete with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who’re at the moment dominating the boys’s tour.
Dominic Thiem© @TheTennisLetter X account
With out Rafa Nadal, the Austrian would have had a a lot better probability of successful not less than one title at Roland Garros. Thiem reached the ultimate in Paris in 2018 and 2019, however he all the time needed to bow to the King of Clay. ‘Domi’ additionally reached the ultimate on the 2020 Australian Open, dominating Nole Djokovic for lengthy stretches of the match however shedding within the fifth set.
The previous world quantity 3 deserved higher luck, however his very exhausting recreation broken his physique irreparably. Everybody’s hope is that Thiem can have a peaceable and peaceable life with out ache, in contrast to Juan Martin del Potro. The Argentine not too long ago revealed that his accidents have seen his every day life an actual hell.