Dominic Thiem gives spot on answer to 'toughest opponent' question before retiring
Dominic Thiem has shared classic battles with Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer but is now calling time on his career and played his last US Open match.
Dominic Thiem has shared his unique perspective on the greatest of all-time debate after bidding farewell to the US Open. The 2020 winner and former world No.3 has played his last grand slam match after a memorable career that has seen him make four finals and share numerous huge battles with Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
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The Austrian is hanging up his racquet at the end of the season after battling with a wrist injury and was beaten in straight sets by home favorite Ben Shelton in the first round of this year’s tournament in the first game at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
There were emotional scenes on the court as Thiem gave an emotional farewell interview at the scene of his greatest triumph, while opponent Shelton also gave a heartwarming tribute.
Speaking in his press conference, Thiem expressed satisfaction with his career - and also weighed in on the age-old debate when asked who is the toughest player he has faced.
Having shared colossal battles with the world's best, Thiem is uniquely placed to comment. But he offered a wise insight, insisting it’s impossible to pick the best without considering all factors on any given day.
He said: “I had really legendary matches against the best players in our era. Maybe the best players in history.
“Each of them is unique. I have the feeling it depends on the day and the surface who’s the toughest to play.
“I had matches where I was winning against them but I also had matches where I didn’t have any chance and they made me look like almost a beginner. Each of them is unique.”
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Speaking ahead of the tournament, Thiem suggested facing off against the famous ‘Big Three’ so regularly contributed to his early retirement. He told the New York Times: “(Playing against the best) contributed to the injury, definitely, I was competing with the three greatest of all time. That was intense.
“But also, all the years before, I always had a big load and intensity in my practice. That’s something the doctor and many other people said: that at one point the wrist broke because of all the shots I did, all the hard practice I did all those years before.”
Discussing his retirement after his final US Open match, he said: “Yeah, I'm happy. You know, it's like I was struggling enough, like, the last years, especially since I was not able to come back to my level, but once I took the decision this year in March, from this moment on, I was happy about it.
“Obviously I was also able to kind of prepare already this new chapter what is coming soon. Honestly, like, I always, I mean, I loved playing on tour, and I was very patient about it, but honestly, I also always really enjoyed to be home and to have, as much as it was possible, kind of a normal life at home. And that's why I always, I really look forward to this one now, that the normal life is now coming
“That's why I think it's not that difficult for me, and that's why I'm really also happy with my decision.”
