In the world of tennis, Dominic Thiem’s name will always be associated with the Big Three – Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. For years, Thiem battled against these legends at the highest level, vying for victories and titles on the biggest stages of the game.
Dominic Thiem himself acknowledges that competing against the Big Three was a double-edged sword. While it pushed him to elevate his game and strive for greatness, it also took a toll on his body. Thiem, now 30 years old, believes that the intense competition led to a wrist injury that ultimately derailed his career.
When Thiem burst onto the scene in 2016, he quickly made his mark as one of the top players in the world. His first taste of success on grass came when he defeated Federer on his way to winning the title in Stuttgart. This victory marked the beginning of a series of clashes with Federer, including a memorable win in Indian Wells to claim his first Masters title.
Against Nadal, Thiem faced both triumph and heartbreak, clinching six wins but losing in consecutive French Open finals in 2018 and 2019. As for Djokovic, Thiem managed to hold his own with a 5-7 record, but his loss in the 2020 Australian Open final from a two-set lead was a devastating blow.
The tide turned for Thiem when he secured his first Grand Slam title at the 2020 US Open. However, shortly after this career-defining moment, disaster struck in the form of a wrist injury. Despite a 10-month recovery period, Thiem was never able to fully regain his peak form.
To compete at the level he did, Thiem had to constantly hone his skills and maintain peak physical fitness. The demands of facing off against the Big Three required a level of dedication and commitment that few players could match.
In the end, Dominic Thiem’s career serves as a cautionary tale of the sacrifices and risks involved in pursuing greatness in the shadow of tennis’s greatest legends. His battles against Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer will always be remembered as defining moments in his career, for better or for worse.
