Thiem explains how Federer, Djokovic and Nadal affected his career
Dominic Thiem has shown his respect and appreciation for Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer after making his fourth Grand Slam final at the US Open. Thiem, ranked at No. 3 in the world, saw off Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to set up a Zverev US Open final.
Previously, Thiem was beaten twice Nadal in both of his French Open finals and earlier this year he lost to Djokovic in a five-set Australian Open final. “I mean, it’s a long story with them. Well, I started to watch Roger when I was only probably seven or eight years old.
When he faced the first time Rafa in Roland Garros, I was only I guess 11,” Thiem recalled. “First of all, I was watching, admiring them. Then when I got bigger and older, I was still watching them and trying to learn from them, trying to put the great parts what they have in their games into my game.
When he faced the first time Rafa in Roland Garros, I was only I guess 11,” Thiem recalled. “First of all, I was watching, admiring them. Then when I got bigger and older, I was still watching them and trying to learn from them, trying to put the great parts what they have in their games into my game.
Then finally the last stage what I came to was playing against them. “With every single match, doesn’t matter if it’s a win or a loss against them, it was a huge, huge experience for me. I learned a lot from every single match of them, against them, also every win against these three players, which are without a doubt the three greatest players which ever played that sport.
