US Open champion Dominic Thiem stated Sunday that chasing future Slams can be simpler now that he has that elusive first tennis main beneath his belt following three close to misses. The second seeded Austrian thought he was heading for a fourth defeat in Grand Slam finals after going two units right down to fifth seeded German Alexander Zverev at Flushing Meadows. However the 27-year-old rallied to complete a stunning comeback 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) against his 23-year-old friend to safe a maiden Grand Slam title. With that monkey off his again, Thiem says he expects to have the ability to play extra freely at Slams as he bids to grab titles away from the “Big Three” of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
“It should be or I anticipate that it may be simpler for me now within the largest tournaments,” Thiem informed reporters.
“As a result of, after all, I had it behind my head that I had an awesome profession to this point, manner higher profession than I may ever dreamt of, however till at this time there was nonetheless an enormous half, an enormous purpose lacking.
“With this purpose achieved, I believe and I hope that I will be somewhat bit extra relaxed and play somewhat bit extra freely on the largest occasions,” he added.
Thiem got here into the US Open final having misplaced in 5 units to Djokovic within the last of the Australian Open earlier this 12 months.
He additionally misplaced within the last of the French Open in 2018 and 2019, each instances to Nadal.
Thiem stated the close to misses have been a sequence round his neck throughout Sunday’s last-two showdown on Arthur Ashe as he was overcome with nerves within the first two units.
“Truthfully, I believe it did not assist me in any respect as a result of I used to be so tight to start with,” he defined.
“I imply, I wished this title a lot, and naturally there was additionally in my head that if I lose this one, it is 0-4.
“It is all the time in your head. Is this opportunity ever coming again once more? All these ideas, which aren’t nice to play your finest tennis, to play free,” he added.
Life’s work
Thiem stated lifting the US Open was a dream come true.
“I achieved a life purpose, a dream of myself, which I had for a lot of, a few years. After all, as a child, as properly, after I began to play tennis. However again then it is so distant,” he informed reporters.
“Then I obtained nearer and nearer to the highest. At one level I noticed that, ‘Wow, possibly in the future I can actually win one of many 4 largest titles in tennis.’
“I put loads of work in. I devoted principally my complete life till this level to win one of many 4 majors. Now I did it. That is additionally for myself an awesome accomplishment.”
Thiem begins his bid for second Slam in simply over per week on the French Open the place he’ll search revenge for these two defeats to Nadal.
The Austrian limped via Sunday’s tie-break however stated he could be match for Roland Garros after the conclusion he’s a Grand Slam champion sinks in.
Promoted
“I believe bodily I will be high-quality, 100 p.c. I will have sufficient time to recuperate from all of the troubles I had,” he stated.
“However the query is how I will do it with the feelings mentally. Clearly, I’ve by no means been on this scenario. I achieved an enormous, massive purpose. I do not know the way I will really feel the following days.”
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