Winner of the US Open 2020 after the return of general confinement in the world, this grand slam came to reward the first part of his career. Performing on all surfaces and finalists 3 times in the grand slam before this title, Dominic Thiem had become the main opponent of Nadal and Djokovic. While this title was to propel him and be the first of many others, the Austrian did not confirm in 2021. Mentally exhausted and sometimes physically injured, he achieved an almost blank season. Will he be able to return to his best level in 2022?
An exceptional clay player
Dominic Thiem has always been in the middle of 2 generations. He cannot be considered the Next Gen like Tsitsipas Medvedev or Zverev. A little younger than Cilic, Dimitrov, Goffin, Raonic or even Nishikori, he was the first of these players to be able to permanently stand up to BIG 3, on all surfaces.
He first made his first performances on clay, his favorite surface. A first title at 20, in his country in Kitzbuhel by beating Goffin in 2014. He especially achieved his first Grand Slam performances at Roland Garros in 2016. At least semi-finalist between 2016 and 2019, losing 3 times against Rafael Nadal and 1 time against Novak Djokovic. He seemed to be getting closer year after year to the title. He was even considered as the natural successor of Rafael Nadal on Parisian soil.
In 2019, he had the best tournament of his young career. A perfect start to the tournament with solid wins in 3 sets against Monfils (No.14) and Khachanov (No.10). Especially an epic semi-final match against Novak Djokovic. 5 sets, 4:19 hours of play over 2 days and a final round of twists and turns. In difficult weather conditions with a strong wind and a match interrupted by rain on Friday evening, Thiem had shown impressive mental strength to conclude against the Serbian. His 2th victory in a row against Djokovic, after a dry victory in 3 sets in 2017 in the quarter-finals.
In the final, with 1 day less rest than the host Rafael Nadal, he offered 2 high quality sets including the second he won 7-5 with an impressive quality of play. Before physically cracking and losing 6-1 6-1 in the last two sets.
It was also on clay that he had achieved his best results in the 1000 Masters until 2019. 2 finals in Madrid, in particular in 2017 and 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztneuc0nPRk
A player who has become complete
The Austrian, who had a very topspin game at the start of his career, perfectly matching clay, has adapted his game to be able to win the biggest titles on hard and become world No. 1.
He made his first benchmark match on this surface at the 2018 US Open with a straight set loss to Rafael Nadal. A first set won 6-0 by the Austrian and a loss in the tie-break of the 5th set. A match that surely served as a trigger on this surface.
In 2019, he won 3 hard tournaments. His first master 1000, on hard, in Indian Wells, beating Roger Federer in the Final. And two ATP 500 at the end of the season, one in Beijing, the other in Vienna, indoors, at home. Sign of his progress on hard, he climbed to the final of the masters when he had won only 3 games in 3 participations so far.
Finally, 2020 marks its progress in hard grand slam. A defeat in the final of the Australian Open in straight sets against Djokovic in a match where he led 2 sets to 0. But we will especially remember his fantastic tournament with solid victories in 4 sets against Nadal and Zverev. A momentum cut off by the health crisis and confinement.
However, he was able to prepare himself mentally and physically to be ready as soon as he resumed the US Open. With the non-participations of Federer and Nadal, and the disqualification of Djokovic, Thiem had a golden opportunity to win his 1is Grand slam. After losing 3 finals, he started his final against Zverev in the worst possible way. Led 2 sets to 0, in the opposite scenario of the Australian Open, he was able to recover his handicap. At the end of a final where the 2 players were very tense, without an audience, Thiem won the trophy.
Thiem winner of the US Open 2020
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2021: Mental decompression
The decompression was not immediate after the US open for the Austrian. His end of the 2020 season is more than honorable. Present at Roland Garros, only 2 weeks after his title at the US Open, he still managed to reach the quarter-final. A victory in 5 sets against the revelation Hugo Gaston who made him draw from his reserves. He lost the next round after a very intense match, in 5 sets against Schwartzman, who played the best tennis of his career. Then he reached for the second year in a row the final of the masters. Victories against Tsitsipas and Nadal in the pool then against Djokovic in the ½ final before losing in 3 tight sets against Medvedev.
It is therefore in the off-season that decompression took place. “I chased a dream for 15 years. When I reached this goal, a lot of things fell apart. I feel empty. I fell into a hole ”.
First a rather strange Australian Open with a spectacular match against Nick Kyrgios in 3th tower. Led 2 sets to 0, he won in 5 sets. Then he completely misses his 1/8th final with a defeat in 3 dry sets against Dimitrov.
From this tournament his record is very bad for a player of his caliber. 6 wins for 6 losses. Especially a defeat from the 1is tower facing Pablo Andujar. He decides to end his season after a loss to Adrian Mannarino and a wrist injury in Mallorca.
Thiem during his defeat in the 1st round of Roland-Garros
Image credit: Martin Bureau / AFP
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Back among the world’s best in 2022?
With a premature end of the season in 2021, Thiem should take the opportunity to recharge the batteries and regain his feelings.
Unfortunately physically diminished, he will not participate in the Australian Open. He will make his return on the South American tour on clay in Cordoba. These tournaments on his favorite surface should allow him to regain confidence and a level of play closer to his standards. If this is the case, we can hope to see him again close to his best level on the European tour on clay. With the climax of Roland-Garros, which promises to be both more open because of the uncertainties concerning Rafael Nadal. But also more dense than in previous years (Djokovic, Tsitsipas, Zverev…).
Finally, back down to 15th world rank, he will try to re-enter at least the Top 10. Which is largely within his reach if he is physically and mentally at the level.
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Guillaume Behra
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