Dominic Thiem admitted recently that he did lose some motivation after finally achieving his childhood dream of becoming a grand slam champion at the US Open.
Thiem did it a few years ago during the pandemic beating good friend Alexander Zverev in the final. It was a huge win as it came in a comeback win where he was down 0-2 in sets to turn it around and win. Winning it was a dream come true for Thiem but also something that impacted his motivation as he lost some of it:
"Nothing comes easy, and success requires hard work, perseverance, and self-belief. After winning the US Open, I lost some of my inner drive, having worked towards that goal for 17 years. Then, the injury occurred, and suddenly I wasn’t ranked in the top three or considered one of the best players in the world. I dropped in the rankings. After much reflection, I found a new goal and reignited my passion for tennis. I love going out on the court, practicing hard, and competing. I strive to improve every day, never giving up."
Asked how he feels right now, Thiem admitted that he's good and motivated to achieve some new goals he set for himself:
"I feel good, much better than at the beginning of the season. Over the last month, I have had great intensity during practice, spending five hours or more per day on the court. The matches in the last few tournaments have also boosted my confidence. Now, it’s important to maintain this level of hard work and continue improving every day. I want to return to the top, and although it won’t be easy, I will give it my all."
Dominic Thiem on Jannik Sinner: “Sinner is a fantastic person, friendly and calm. I can even speak German with him as he grew up close to the Austrian border. He’s a great player and athlete, and I think he’ll be at the top for a long time with the potential to win Grand Slams.”
