In the hallowed halls of tennis history, there are few players who leave a lasting impact, who make their mark on the sport in a way that can never be forgotten. Dominic Thiem, the Austrian powerhouse, was one such player. With a fierce determination and a steely resolve, he let his racquet do the talking on the courts of the ATP tour, until it no longer could.
As he announced his retirement at the ATP stop in Vienna, the tennis world was left to ponder the legacy of this 31-year-old champion. Thiem’s career was nothing short of impressive, with 17 tour-level singles titles to his name, including a major victory at the 2020 US Open. His career-high world ranking of No. 3 solidified his place among the tennis elite, in the company of other one-Slam winners like Marin Cilic, Juan Martin del Potro, and Daniil Medvedev.
But what truly set Thiem apart was his ability to compete against the Big Three – Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. Winning 16 of 35 matches against these legends, including three victories at Grand Slams, Thiem proved time and time again that he was a force to be reckoned with on the court. Federer himself acknowledged Thiem’s power, saying after their match in the 2019 Indian Wells final, “You could definitely feel like every shot in Dominic’s game has got some punch behind it. That’s where his secret lies . . . He can hit through heavy conditions, forehand and backhand and do that time and time again.”
Thiem’s record against the Big Three speaks for itself – 5-7 versus Djokovic, 6-10 against Nadal, and 5-2 over Federer. His ability to rise to the occasion on the biggest stages, with wins over Djokovic at Roland Garros and Nadal at the Australian Open, cemented his place as a true competitor in the tennis world.
While Thiem may have bid farewell to the sport he loved, his legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of tennis fans everywhere. A champion on and off the court, Dominic Thiem leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.
