In tennis, where legends are born and dreams are shattered, few stories resonate as deeply as that of Dominic Thiem. With his relentless spirit, powerful baseline game, and trademark one-handed backhand, the Austrian prodigy carved a unique niche in the sport, captivating fans and inspiring aspiring players across the globe.
From his humble beginnings in Austria to his rise as one of the premier players on the ATP Tour, Thiem’s career is a testament to perseverance, talent, and an unyielding passion for the game.
Dominic Thiem: A Career of Grit and Glory
Early Days
Thiem appeared destined for the game, with both his parents, Karin and Wolfgang, working as tennis instructors. At just nine years old, he began training with Gunter Bresnik, a renowned coach who had previously coached Boris Becker. Bresnik advised Thiem to switch from a two-handed backhand to a one-hander that would later define his professional career.
There were stories that Thiem trained by carrying logs through forests and swimming in icy rivers during winter, although Thiem himself denied these rumors. Bresnik confirmed that Thiem’s commitment was unwavering, stating, “He’s the only guy who never, ever asked me how much longer practice is going to take?”
As Thiem rapidly rose in the tennis world, there were concerns about him participating in too many tournaments. Over three years, starting in 2015, Thiem participated in well over 25 events annually, accumulating a workload of 223 matches. His packed schedule, which included the demanding South American clay court season and post-Wimbledon clay stops in Europe, left little time for rest and recovery. Despite the potential risk of burnout, Thiem knew that his unwavering commitment had also been the key to his success.
Getting Armed
Thiem’s journey cannot be fully captured by quantitative data alone. Let’s begin with his distinctive shot. In a time when most players use a two-handed backhand, Thiem’s one-handed backhand was a rare sight. He repeatedly demonstrated that to succeed with this shot in modern professional tennis, it must be good and exceptional. Thiem’s backhand was remarkable, driven by a full rotation of hips and shoulders, powered by a full-bodied swing, and the unwavering belief in a stroke he had practised so thoroughly that he never held back from using it.
While the backhand was admired for its unique place in tennis, Thiem’s forehand was possibly even more dangerous. The combination of these skills made Thiem an incredibly captivating player to watch–a captivating mix of artistry, strength, and concentration.
This combination gave Thiem the weapons to compete against the Big Three, securing 16 victories out of 35 matches against Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. He achieved three of these wins at Grand Slam events, including triumphs over Djokovic at Roland Garros in 2017 and 2019 and a victory over Nadal at the Australian Open in 2020.
His record was 5-7 against Djokovic, 6-10 against Nadal, and 5-2 over Federer. Federer, another one-handed backhand maestro, noted the power behind every shot in Thiem’s game and highlighted his ability to consistently deliver forceful shots on both forehand and backhand, particularly in challenging conditions.
Grand Slam Triumph
Thiem’s most significant victory occurred during the 2020 US Open, which was held during the peak of the pandemic, and with no fans in attendance. Early in the tournament, Thiem described the situation as unusual and unfavourable.
The loneliness of the event became even more pronounced during the final match, as Thiem faced Alexander Zverev in front of 23,000 empty seats at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Both players displayed frequent nervousness, leading to erratic and cautious gameplay.
Ultimately, Thiem returned from two sets down and 5-3 in the fifth set to win 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (6). This was the first time since Pancho Gonzalez’s 1949 victory over Ted Schroeder at Forest Hills that a man had rallied from being two sets down to win the US Open singles title. In addition to Zverev, Thiem defeated several prominent players from recent years, including Marin Cilic, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alex de Minaur, and Daniil Medvedev, who won the following year.
Road to Retirement
After his US Open triumph, Thiem’s previously successful momentum began to wane. His year ended early in June 2021 due to a right wrist injury, causing him to drop out of the Top 100 by May 2022. Thiem struggled mentally rather than physically following a straight-sets loss to 90th-ranked Hugo Dellien in the first round of Roland Garros that year. He seemed more tense and nervous, which affected his performance on the court, especially his forehand.
At the indoor hard-court ATP 500 in Vienna, a couple of days before the former No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings stepped on the court in what will be his final match against Italian Luciano Darderi, Thiem was celebrated on a special “Super Sunday,” participating in an exhibition set against Alexander Zverev, the player he beat to secure his sole Major title.
“It was an incredible journey. You were the most important ones, opponents and friends, and it was always a pleasure to be with you,” said Thiem after walking through a guard of honor that included former coach Nicolas Massu, former rivals Frances Tiafoe, Matteo Berrettini, and icon Boris Becker.
“It means so much to me that you were there today,” he added.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane/USA Today Sports
