Dominic Thiem has mirrored that competing with Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer contributed to his career-derailing wrist harm.
The 2020 US Open champion proclaimed, although, that he considers himself fortunate to have performed concurrently the Huge Three.
Thiem will play the ultimate Grand Slam event of his profession on the 2024 US Open as he’s set to retire at his house event in Vienna in October. The 30-year-old will face world No 13 Ben Shelton within the opening spherical.
The Austrian introduced in Might that 2024 could be the ultimate season of his profession, having struggled since struggling a critical wrist harm in 2021.
“There are some causes behind it,” Thiem mentioned in an Instagram submit in Might. “Firstly, my wrist is just not precisely the way in which it must be and it isn’t precisely the way in which how I need it and the second purpose is my internal feeling.
“I used to be eager about this determination for a really very long time. I used to be considering very fastidiously about it. I used to be eager about the entire journey as a tennis participant, which was unimaginable. I’ve had success, I’ve gained trophies I by no means dreamt of.
“The journey was unimaginable, all of the ups and downs. It was an unimaginable expertise which I used to be so grateful for and ultimately I got here to the conclusion that this determination to finish my profession by the top of the season is the one proper one.”
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The 14 international locations to supply a US Open males’s singles champion in Open Period
Thiem has written his identify in tennis historical past for his excellent achievements throughout an period he shared with the three best gamers of all time.
The 30-year-old recorded six wins towards Nadal (6-10) and 5 wins towards each Djokovic (5-7) and Federer (5-2). He has reached 4 Grand Slam finals and secured 17 ATP titles — the latest of which was his 2020 US Open triumph.
In an interview with The Athletic forward of his final US Open marketing campaign, Thiem admitted battling the legendary trio had taken its toll on him bodily.
“That contributed to the harm, positively,” Thiem defined. “I used to be competing with the three best of all time. That was intense.
“But additionally, all of the years earlier than I all the time had a giant load and depth in my observe. That’s one thing the physician and lots of different folks mentioned: that at one level the wrist broke due to all of the photographs I did, all of the exhausting observe I did all these years earlier than.
“I used to be all the time striving to get higher and get even nearer to the very best gamers on the earth.
“I contemplate myself fortunate to be in that timeline with the Huge Three and all the opposite nice gamers.
“I got here up into the highest 100 manner later than most. They got here up after they have been, like, 18, whereas I used to be 20 and a half. I didn’t suppose it might be attainable that I’d be a Grand Slam champion and No 3 on the earth.”
The previous world No 3 additionally candidly mentioned the problem of his US Open victory and his comeback towards Alexander Zverev within the remaining.
“I already felt earlier than the match (the 2020 US Open remaining towards Zverev) that one thing was not proper,” Thiem defined.
“I wasn’t moving into the zone or the movement. And that’s how the primary two units went — they have been manner too tense, too nervous. Sascha [Zverev] was enjoying rather well.
“The strain was so excessive. I used to be considering again to my earlier finals. Possibly it’s much less strain to face the best gamers of all time. As a result of the US Open, I needed to win [in those circumstances], and that was actually powerful.
“Each Grand Slam remaining felt prefer it might be the final one, as a result of the journey is actually powerful.
“It’s important to beat nice gamers, you must keep wholesome. Many, many little issues have to come back collectively. After I performed Sascha, it was like now or by no means.
“After I was two units down, fortunately I launched a bit and he additionally began to suppose a bit extra that he’s very near the title.”
In 2020, Thiem had an excellent season as he claimed his maiden main together with his victory on the US Open, whereas he was additionally a runner-up on the Australian Open and the ATP Finals.
The previous world No 3 was not the identical participant thereafter, although, having struggled with motivation for the primary half of 2021, earlier than struggling a proper wrist harm in June that yr.
Since coming back from the wrist harm in 2022, the Austrian’s forehand — which was beforehand his greatest shot and one of many deadliest weapons within the recreation — has been considerably weaker.
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