[ad_1]
Dominic Thiem says that he dedicated his entire life to winning a Grand Slam title and with his victory at the US Open, the Austrian hopes that he will be presented with more of the sport’s biggest awards.
Thiem had lost all three of his previous Grand Slam finals, two to Rafa Nadal at the French Open and one to Novak Djokovic in Australia, and it seemed he had squandered another opportunity when Alexander Zverev won the first two sets in New York.
But the Austrian made a surprising comeback to win 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (6) in a hectic battle of wills and will now head to the French Open with renewed confidence. .
“I hope it’s easier for me now in the biggest tournaments,” said Thiem, who became the first player outside of Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer to claim a Grand Slam title since Stan Wawrinka’s triumph at the US. Open 2016.
“I had in the back of my head that I had had a great career so far, much better than I ever dreamed of, but to this day there was still a great goal missing. With this accomplished, I hope to be a little more relaxed and play a little more freely at the biggest events.
Thiem said his triumph in New York was the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice.
“I definitely achieved a life goal, a dream, that I had for many, many years. Back then it was so far away. Then I got closer to the top and I realized that maybe one day I could really win one of the four biggest titles, “he added.
“Basically, I spent my whole life up to this point winning one. Now I did. That is for me, my team and my family, a great achievement. Today is the day that I gave back a great deal of what they did for me. “
For Zverev, it was too early to look for the positives of his US Open campaign as the devastated German struggled to accept his loss in five sets.
The 23-year-old looked poised for victory in his first appearance in a grand slam final until second seed Thiem fought back for the title as an exhausted Zverev battled a thigh cramp that neutralized his powerful service.
“I was very close to being a Grand Slam champion. He was a few games away, maybe at some points, ”Zverev said. “I don’t think this is my last chance. I think I’ll be a Grand Slam champion at some point. “
The fifth seed said the turning point in the four-hour thriller came when Thiem broke his serve for the first time in the third set, a break that reversed the momentum of the match.
“He started playing a lot better and I started playing a lot worse,” said Zverev, who also lost to Thiem in the Australian Open semifinal earlier this year.
When asked if he could point to some positive aspects of his time at Flushing Meadows, he was blunt: “That question is probably two or three days before it is being asked right now.”
During the presentation of the trophy on the court, Zverev tearfully thanked his parents, who he said had contracted the coronavirus.
“Unfortunately my mom and dad tested positive before the tournament and couldn’t have gone with me. I miss you, ”she said, pausing to compose herself.
“I’m sure they are sitting at home, even though I lost, they are very proud.”
He later told reporters that he was so lost in the moment that he couldn’t remember what he had said.
“Losing 7-6 in the fifth after being two sets away from loving and a break is not easy,” he said. “In the speech, I mean, I got emotional. I couldn’t put two words together. Yes, it was a difficult time for me. “
