Thiem sums up 2020 as 'tough but amazing'

Following his 2020 ATP Finals final loss to Daniil Medvedev, year-end world number 3, Dominic Thiem summed up the match and his 2020 season.

Although the major part of the season was not played due to COVID-19, the Austrian enjoyed a very good season. He has won his first Grand Slam title at the 2020 US Open, finished the season as the third-ranked player and got very close to winning the ATP Finals title again.

“Honestly, I would do the same again, play a lot of slice,” Thiem reflected in his post-match press conference. “The way he broke me in the third set was an unreal game. He put great returns in. I had [a] few chances to convert that game. He played some great rallies there.

“Probably if you look at the whole tournament, he was the best player,” Thiem added. “He didn't lose a set in the group stage. Beat No. 2 and No. 3 players in the world in the semis and in the final, so he definitely deserved that title.”

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“When the tennis world, our job came back - I mean, luckily it came back - everything was different with life in the bubble, playing without [a] crowd. There were many, many new experiences,” Thiem reflected. “I think it is still a very tough year for many, many people. We athletes, and I'm speaking of tennis players, we are very privileged to do our jobs.

“If I speak about the tennis, if I speak about my job, I mean, it has been an outstanding year. I have reached one of my big lifetime goals with winning that Grand Slam.

“So even though it's a tough year, it will always have a special place in my heart this year, 100%.”

“It was still a very intense year, since the Tour returned [it] was super intense, so I haven't set myself any goals yet for next year,” he mused. “But of course I want to climb up the Rankings.

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“I mean, this year and also [last] year has been amazing. I was playing great and had deep runs in many, many big tournaments. That's what I want to do as well next year. If I'm able to do that, I think I will also get chances to climb the Rankings.”