The crowning moment
Reflecting on his only major final win in New York four years ago against Alexander Zverev, Thiem vividly recalls feeling incredibly nervous:
“I already felt before the match that something was not right. I wasn’t getting into the zone or the flow. And that’s how the first two sets went — they were way too tense, too nervous. Sascha (Zverev) was playing really well. The pressure was so high. I was thinking back to my previous finals. Maybe it’s less pressure to face the greatest players of all time. Because the U.S. Open, I had to win (in those circumstances), and that was really tough.”
Maybe it’s less pressure to face the greatest players of all time. Because the U.S. Open, I had to win
Thiem on the 2020 US Open final vs Alexander Zverev
Having lost three major finals before, Thiem’s victory over Zverev was a significant achievement. He described it as a nail-biter fifth set tiebreak that was the crowning moment of his career.
Thiem further explained his mindset on the fateful day:
“Every Grand Slam final felt like it could be the last one, because the journey is really tough. You have to beat great players, you have to stay healthy. Many, many little things have to come together. When I played Sascha (that day in New York), it was like now or never. When I was two sets down, luckily I released a bit and he also started to think a bit more that he’s very close to the title.”
The end of the Austrian road
Despite high hopes following his US Open win, Thiem suffered a career-changing injury against Adrian Mannarino at the Mallorca ATP 250 tournament. The wrist injury forced him to sit out the rest of the 2021 season and struggle to regain his form in the following year.
In May, Thiem announced his decision to retire at the end of the 2024 season due to ongoing wrist issues. He mentioned his struggle to regain his previous form and the disappointment of not meeting his own expectations.
The price of being one of the best, in an era of greats?
Thiem acknowledged that his injury was a result of the consistent strain on his wrist from playing against top players and intense practice sessions. Despite the challenges, he expressed gratitude for his career and the opportunity to compete against some of the best in the sport.
Thiem reflected on his career and the competition he faced:
“I consider myself lucky to be in that timeline with the Big Three and all the other great players. I came up into the top 100 way later than most; they came up when they were, like, 18, whereas I was 20 and a half. I didn’t think it would be possible that I’d be a Grand Slam champion and No 3 in the world.”
I consider myself lucky to be in that timeline
Thiem on competing against Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and others
On Monday, Thiem will make a final appearance at Arthur Ashe stadium, honoring his achievements in the sport. Despite his early retirement, Thiem’s career will be remembered for his incredible talent and moments of glory.
