"It's a lot more difficult but at the same time, it's a lot of fun": Thiem opens up on why he struggles at Wimbledon
ATPThursday, 29 June 2023 at 19:00
Dominic
Thiem acknowledged his struggles at Wimbledon and hopes to improve his results.
The
Austrian is one of the few players to have won a Grand Slam during the Big
Three era. In the 2020 US Open, he defeated Alexander Zverev in an incredible
final after being two sets down, extending the match to the third-set tiebreak
and winning 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(6).
In an
interview with The Power of Sport, Thiem recalled some of the highlights of his
career. Thiem achieved his first Grand Slam title after four finals, at Roland
Garros in 2018 and 2019 (losses to Rafael Nadal) and at the 2020 Australian
Open (loss to Novak Djokovic):
“The most
important thing was the first step," he added.
"So,
getting into a final for the first time because then I knew I could do it and I
knew how it feels to be in a Grand Slam for this long and I think the
experience of the first time helped me get into a final a second and a third
time."
Read also
Regarding
his championship at the 2020 US Open, he said:
“The
tournament was very special in itself,"
"You could
say a once-in-a-century experience which hopefully won’t repeat itself for a
long time. Constantly playing behind closed doors,” Thiem added
“With each
match, it got better and better and we had a very special final against Sascha
Zverev, with 7-6 in the fifth set. That match was a classic, I’d say, from a
sport point of view.”
"It
was the best moment of my career so far," claimed Thiem.
In recent
years, the world No. 3 has struggled to achieve good results due to injuries,
but he hopes to improve his performance on grass. His best run at the third
Grand Slam of the year was reaching the fourth round in 2017, where he was
defeated by Tomas Berdych.
“For me, in
terms of results, Wimbledon is my worst Grand Slam by a distance. The last
match I won there was six years ago - so a long time.”
“Grass is
just different. The bounce of the ball is much lower. Serve is much more
important. Often a few points can make the difference. You’ll probably also get
a lot more breaks on grass, so it’s a lot more difficult but at the same time,
it’s a lot of fun. Unfortunately, it’s a very brief season but it’s about
getting the most out of it,” Thiem added.
“I think
everybody knows Wimbledon.”
"Not
just sports fans or tennis fans. It’s the tournament with the greatest
tradition and it’s the dream of every player and of every fan to be there and
to watch games," he concluded.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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