Just a few years ago Dominic Thiem was an elite ATP player and Grand Slam champion. Today’s he’s becoming or already is a journeyman.
So far in 2023 the 29 year old Thiem has a 1-5 match record and is ranked no. 96.
Last year the Austrian powerhouse achieved an 18-16 record but his ranking dropped from 50 in January to 113 at the end of the year, his last tournament of 2022 was in Vienna, where he beat Tommy Paul in three sets but lost to Daniil Medvedev 63 63.
Thiem has won 17 ATP titles in his career and over $29m in prize money. He won the 2020 US Open and was no. 3 in the world in March of 2020.
But then a wrist tear injury in June of 2021 hampered his career. He’s never been the same since. The wrist seems okay now and he is competing with a regular schedule but something in his game has been lost. Perhaps it’s timing, confidence, youth, spirit, hunger, enthusiasm, aura or a combination of all of these qualities.
At 29 Thiem should be in his prime. But like Mats Wilander once said, “If a player does not treat every match like life and death, he will go down the rankings.”
Thiem has accomplished an incredible career, he’s fabulously wealthy and a Grand Slam champion. But at this stage he may be a journeyman cruising through the home stretch of his superb career, like other famous major champions Juan Carlos Ferrero, Michael Chang, Guillermo Coria, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick, Goran Ivanisevic, Albert Costa who all were middle of the pack players in their later 20s/early 30s.
adidas · Austria · Dominic Thiem · Head tennis · US Open
Matt Segel · February 23, 2023 at 3:25 pm
It is probably a lack of confidence (obviously) but a lack of motivation. He got three us open and has never been the same. Such small margins in tennis. His serve has always seemed a little inconsistent and so no easy matches.
I also think he has issues with his childhood coach that probably have confused his mind about tennis.
There can only be 10 players in the top 10!
Scoop Malinowski · February 23, 2023 at 6:32 pm
Matt, Also I heard he lost some motivation a few years ago, his whole life was tennis since age ten, he got to 3 and a Grand Slam title, he worked so hard 110 percent every day on court in practice and matches, I saw many of his practices and he went all out on everything, every point, drill, so I think he burnt out a little and started coasting and floating, the burning desire and obsession are not there anymore so he’s not winning like he did. There could be 50 players in top 10 ) so many are worthy )