"Non-Grand Slams are underestimated" says Dominic Thiem

Dominic Thiem is a grand slam champion ever since he won his maiden one at the 2020 US Open. The Austrian is one of the rare champions among the younger generation with Daniil Medvedev being the other two. Remembering his run in New York he said:

“Indeed, New York will always be special for me: I won my first Grand Slam title there. And I have always loved New York. Usually in the Grand Slams people are nice and these are the biggest tournaments for us in the season so we want to be there."

For Thiem the importance of Grand Slams is very high due to the history and tradition:

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“Grand Slams have been there for years and years, there is a tradition around them, these are the four most important tournaments in the world. Many people who are not particularly tennis fans have become or can become so by watching these Grand Slam tournaments. It is so special. So I understand this craze but you also have to know how to appreciate the other tournaments which are very hard to win.”

That lead Thiem to explain that in his belief the rest of the events are underestimated considering just how hard they are to win as well:

“I don’t know what it was like 20 years ago, but since I’ve been playing pro, it’s true that Grand Slam tournaments are very important. But everyone knows, and we players first, how difficult it is to win a Masters 1000, a Masters, an ATP 500 or an ATP 250. So I believe that indeed, they are underestimated.”