As number 3 in the world and in a tremendous final against Zverev. The 27-year-old Austrian at the time gave all tennis lovers a great match and was proclaimed champion of the US Open. Dominic Thiem became the champion of a Grand Slam for the first time and everything pointed to the fact that it was going to be the first of many for the level shown in the competition. But what Thiem couldn’t know was that from then on it would sink into a pit from which it would be very difficult to climb back up.
His fall would not start specifically after that US Open final, Thiem continued to play at a high level after completing said Grand Slam. His descent from the sky to the ground would be given in 2021. The year that stopped in its tracks the great career that was expected of the Austrian. In June, In a match against Adrián Mannarino, Thiem felt immense pain in his wrist. Specifically a muscle tear.
An injury that kept him off the track for a long time. The Austrian decided not to undergo surgery and treat the injury based on rest. Which she did not turn out as she expected. There were finally nine months that he was without being able to pick up a racket and where Thiem had a really bad time. went from being number 3 in the world to be currently ranked number 231.
The return to the slopes
In Marbella, on March 29, 2022, Dominic Thiem returned to compete. He returned to the slopes after spending many months recovering and despite saying on several occasions his return would be prolonged for a longer time. Thiem lost to Pedro Cachín in three setsbut that didn’t matter. The Austrian set foot on a tennis court again and everything that came later was a blessing for him.
From there Thiem continued to work to return to competing like the best. Despite losing in the following tournaments that he played in the first rounds, he continued to prepare himself to try to show a good level in the different Grand Slams. At Roland Garros he was eliminated in the first round and at Wimbledon he did not compete in the tournament. However, now he has a new challenge ahead of him that makes him more excited than any other.
Return to the US Open
Two years later, Thiem returns to the stage where he was crowned champion. He does it after going through extremely difficult times and he does it as a guest so he does not have the pressure of being forced to get a big position.
The Austrian takes this tournament as a new opportunity to return to being what he was. He knows that in recent tournaments he has not been able to be at the level of the best and he knows perfectly what his position is in the Grand Slam. “There is a big difference between Medvedev, Rafa and me because they may be the big favorites for the title. I am only one of hundreds of ‘intruders’. They have had a great year, they played a Grand Slam final against each other and they have played throughout the year. I, on the other hand, keep coming back little by little. But still, I am very proud to be in this small circle of players”, assured Thiem in an interview for Tennis.com.
Thiem will also have a birthday in the middle of the tournament. There are 29 that he does and he thinks that the term of the Next Gen no longer fits him in a certain way. “I am no longer young or at least not from the Next Gen. The last few years I always felt that I was growing up, that I still belonged to the Next Gen. But it really has changed, I’m experienced, I have been on the circuit for 10 years. Those things have changed and I hope I can make the best of it.”
Dominic Thiem looks to re-enter the top 100 ranking. His ordeal seems to be coming to an end and he is enjoying tennis again. Now, will try to get a good feeling at the US Open, the place where he became champion and where he hopes to meet his best version again.
