"When he is at this level, it is impossible to play him": Thiem looks back fondly at 2019 Indian Wells win over Federer

The year is 2019 and Dominic Thiem toppled the great Roger Federer in the final of BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells and he will hope for a similar form breaker.

Thiem came into the tournament four years ago off the back of a disastrous start to the season similar to 2023 and while having a run this time around is less likely, he will hope it can be the run to snap him out of a bad run.

“I came there playing wise in a really bad situation,” Thiem said on Wednesday. “[I was] not playing well and I was not expecting anything and then slowly somehow, I started to play better and better, winning matches. I got a little bit lucky. Gael Monfils had to retire in the quarters and then I happened to win the tournament. If people knew how I would have felt and played before Indian Wells they would be very surprised that I ended up winning.”  

“After Rio I decided to go early to Indian Wells, to prepare myself physically and with my tennis,” Thiem continued. “It was a good decision because from being not fit at all and playing really bad in two weeks I was giving myself a great chance to play great tennis and fight all the match, because I was physically fit.”

“For me it was an unbelievable week and I was going into the final relaxed against Roger, who was the favourite and playing well back then.

“I wasn’t putting any pressure [on me] because before when I played the first Madrid final I was putting pressure on myself because I wanted to win this first [ATP Masters] 1000. It was different in Indian Wells. I was just enjoying those two weeks, enjoying my tennis and that is probably a reason why I ended up winning."

“The first set there was exactly why Roger is so popular and why people love to watch Roger so much. He was toying with me. He was playing at his best level. He was doing whatever he wanted and when he is at this level, it is impossible to play him. I was just hoping he would have one weak game in the second set and he had it and I broke and then the match was kind of opening. I am also happy I witnessed this first set, it was an unbelievable experience to play against someone playing such good tennis.”