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Thiem has not yet realized what he has accomplished in New York. “I have slept maybe two in the last 50 hours. I’m quite breaded, but happy to be back in Austria, ”said Thiem, who would like to relax in the next few days. A meal with the family, spending time with the dog in nature, or just hanging out in the car are the first priority for the newly crowned Grand Slam winner.
As a person, Thiem feels the same after the second major title for an Austrian after Thomas Muster in Paris 1995 than before. “I have achieved the end goal of my career in a sporting sense. But my life does not depend on professional success, otherwise I would not be happy. Of course, my level of consciousness has increased, but I am ready for that, ”said the Lichtenwörther.
Press conference with Dominic Thiem
After his victory at the US Open, Dominik Thiem returned to Austria from New York and got in front of the cameras.
Thiem does not expect that after the victory, for which he has worked with great determination every day and in each training session, a certain void will emerge. “I want to enjoy it now and think about the journey of the last four weeks for the next few days and reflect on it,” said Thiem, who will start training over the weekend and then to Paris on Wednesday for the French Open, which can be watch live on ORF. will be, will break.
New ease as a trump card
After a Grand Slam, this time it is immediately before the next Grand Slam. Physically, Thiem hopes to be in top shape. The thigh (“The cramps were more mentally caused”) and the Achilles tendon shouldn’t cause any problems. He’s also calm about the change from hard court to sand. “I grew up on the surface. The most important task will be to process everything to fly fresh to Paris. “
The Austrian bass, who had to bow to Rafael Nadal in the final in the last two years, did not want to waste a goal. However, you would like to use the positive energy of New York for Paris. “I hope to be able to face the big tournaments and the big games more easily in the future and then play even better. I would like to use the tailwind for the French Open, ”Thiem said. “I have an incredible career, but the great title was still missing. I would have looked back crying if I hadn’t made it. That is no longer necessary. “
“Incredibly nervous” before the US Open final
The 27-year-old put a lot of pressure on himself in recent Grand Slam tournaments. A pressure that he also felt in the final against Zverev. “I was incredibly nervous. A role in the back of my mind that I reached the final as a favorite. My brain has been working since Novak Djokovic (knockout knockout, note) was out. When I hit it, I still felt good, the ball was loose on my racket. Nothing worked from the first ball. I was leaden, so I didn’t know myself. “
Thiem cited fear of his fourth loss in a Grand Slam final as the reason for this. “The idea of losing again was there most of the time. After the 2-0 and a break in the rear he became even stronger. Fortunately, I cleared up a bit the third time, ”said the Austrian. “I don’t even want to imagine what would have happened if it hadn’t worked. Maybe that would have been very bad for my career, who knows. “
Pure relief and compassion for Zverev
When Zverev’s backhand landed in the out, Thiem felt pure relief. “Nothing went through my head at all. After the tiebreaker, he was totally exhausted. After Indian Wells or the victories in Austria (Vienna and Kitzbühel 2019, note), I felt lucky, but after the first Grand Slam title, of course, it was bigger, ”said Thiem, who would like to let a few months pass . you will see the final in its entirety again. “Maybe in 2021. There was too much drama for me.”
Therefore, Thiem also sympathized with Zverev. “We have a long friendship and a long rivalry. Although he is four years younger, we started the 2014 tour together. The awards ceremony was difficult for me, it was really destroyed. I want you to win a title like this as soon as possible. I’d be happy too, ”said Thiem, who received another congratulation from Zverev at four in the morning. “That was a great gesture.”
The 23-year-old German’s congratulations were not the only ones. An avalanche of news reached Thiem. “I was happy with each one of them. Especially from family and friends, of course. With the victory I was able to give back a lot for what everyone gave for me, ”said the 17-time winner of the tournament, who won’t want to celebrate until after the French Open. “I’m waiting. I’ll let her break up with friends for a day or two.”
“Bubble” as a new challenge
Initially, the focus is clearly on the upcoming Grand Slam tournament. In Paris, Thiem again expects a “bubble” with isolation from the outside world, lots of security personnel and CoV testing on a working line. “But it has to be. There are a lot of people involved, so you have to be strict. The US Open went off without a hitch and was therefore a role model for the other tournaments, ”said Thiem.
Due to the extraordinary situation, Thiem values his victory more than if everything had been normal. “It was a huge load on the ‘bubble.’ There was no distraction. You couldn’t go shopping or eat. The thoughts were always on tennis. Sometimes too much. It was an incredible challenge, ”Thiem gave a glimpse of the four mentally demanding weeks in New York.
Thiem sees Nadal as a Paris favorite
Thiem doesn’t think a changing of the guard was announced with his US Open title. “I don’t see it that way. Djokovic and Nadal will be in top form in Paris. If so, they are always the big favorites. Nadal also has the advantage that he has trained on clay in Europe. He will also play in Rome before that and accumulate match practice, ”Thiem said and sees the 12-time French Open winner as the first contender for the title this year as well.
Therefore, the jump to the top of the world ranking is not a problem for Thiem at the moment. “In my head, the French Open is not the world ranking. Of course, this is spinning in your head, but not in Paris. Ranking is not my top priority. I only look at it later, but if I went further, of course I wouldn’t complain, ”Thiem clarified.
In addition to the ATP rankings, the high prize money in a Grand Slam tournament only plays a minor role for the Austrian. “I keep going to a tournament as pure as it used to, when there was no money. Money is not a priority at all. I am lucky to participate in a sport that involves a lot of money. But I don’t play for that, but for the goals and the hits, “explained Thiem.
