Dominic Thiem’s ​​ATP Tour rivals on what made him great | ATP Tour

Dominic Thiem

‘He had it all’: Thiem’s ​​ATP Tour rivals on what made him great

Sinner, Alcaraz among those who will think about the extensive Austrian heritage

October 21, 2024

Few could compete with Dominic Thiem at his best: Just ask those who tried.

The 31-year-old Austrian, who will compete this week in the final event of her professional career at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, combined hard groundstrokes with classy moves and a solid net game. Those skills took him to a career-high No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings and helped him win 17 tour-level trophies, including a major title at the 2020 US Open.

“He was perfect,” Matteo Berrettini told ATPTour.com this week in Vienna, where Thiem will face Luciano Darderi in the first round on Tuesday evening. “He had everything. Backhand, forehand, serve, moves well, fights like hell. He had big hands too, so he was really tricky to play.

“We played in many different places, but I started playing with him at Roland Garros in 2018. In clay, I could feel it after three sets. The pressure was really high, and he was still young [at the end]so I was like, ‘I have to work hard to beat this guy’. That was his power… He was really someone I always respected, because the power he brought to the court was special.”

For many of Thiem’s ​​fans and rival players alike, one aspect of the Austrian’s game stands out: his back. He arrived on Tour at a time when one-handers are becoming increasingly rare, especially among the game’s elite. Yet similar to his fellow Grand Slam champions Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka, the hand under the racquet has not affected Thiem’s ​​ability to pack a punch.

“It’s just a body [stood out]. The way his ball was difficult on both sides,” said Alex de Minaur, Thiem leads the Lexus ATP Head2Head series 4-0. “Usually people with one-handedness struggle to get that much weight and weight off the ball, but he didn’t have that problem. He worked hard for it. The toughness was always there, and he has always been an amazing person and athlete. I’ve always had a lot of respect for him.”

The only backhand player currently in the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Rankings is Grigor Dimitrov. The Bulgarian, who is two years older than Thiem, has been an on-court rival and off-court friend throughout the Austrian’s career.

“Domi for me was a special player,” Dimitrov told ATP Media. “There was a time, with his results and the way he played and because he had one hand at the back, when he was a good challenge for me to improve certain aspects of my game. Especially on clay, for example, or pushing myself to play well. There were bits and pieces throughout the years.

“We also played a few times against each other. I wish him all the best. He is an amazing man. We are humble and sweet, really, and we had some great memories together. ”

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Dominic Thiem and Grigor Dimitrov at the 2021 Australian Open. Photo Credit: David Gray/AFP via Getty Images

As well as promoting a one-handed team, Thiem also led the way in disrupting the dominance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. He is one of only two players, alongside Andy Murray, to have at least five Lexus ATP Head2Head wins against each member of the ‘Big Three’.

“I feel like he was one of the first guys who started challenging the big names,” said Taylor Fritz, five years younger than Thiem. “He was playing in an era when Novak and Rafa and Fed were unbeatable, and then Andy too. He was one of the first guys to break through and they started beating those guys.

“The boy hit an incredibly big ball. It was always unbelievable in the clay, but towards the end there [before his injury] disbelief began everywhere. It was very exciting to see what he was doing as a young player, showing us that yes, these guys were winning, and leading the next generation.”

Thiem’s ​​rise unfortunately came too early for him to emerge with rivals Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. While the two stars were established on the ATP Tour, the Austrian’s career was interrupted by a wrist injury that ultimately prevented him from regaining his top level. He’s never faced Sinner or Alcaraz in a competitive match, but he’s making a remarkable run at the current Top 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

“I’ve never played against Dominic in an official match, but person to person, he’s been amazing,” said the World No. 1 Sinner. “It didn’t matter what level I was or how young I was, he always said hello, and we had conversations… I still hope to see him at some tournaments. He always brings great energy to the lobby and dining room. I think all the players will miss him.”

Alcaraz said: “I had the opportunity to watch him play a lot. I participated in a few tournaments with him. When I played my first ATP Tour tournament in Rio de Janeiro in 2020, I had the opportunity to practice with him. I was very happy about it. I watched him beat great players, win great tournaments. He had a really good job.

“My younger brother played tennis, and he was a big fan of Dominic Thiem. He played with Thiem’s ​​racquet, not mine! So he always watched Dominic’s matches, and I often heard from my brother: ‘I want to play like Dominic Thiem. I want to play like him, with the same racket and the same style.’ In my family, we have a very high rate of Dominic. ”

Fans around the world will be hoping for one last burst of ‘Thiem tennis’ this week in Vienna, where he lifted one of his 17 tour-level titles in 2019. Although it will be the last time he competes as a professional, the legacy of Thiem’s ​​tour-level career will live on in those who played against him.

“I’ve always enjoyed watching his tennis, especially his backhand and his mental toughness,” said Japan’s Kei Nishikori, whose Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Thiem was most recent at the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals. “He has a lot of power with his groundstrokes.

“These days you don’t see him very often. He has a good backhand and a lot of people don’t have that, so it’s sad to lose him, but I hope he can enjoy playing at home in Vienna. [one last time].”