A Backhand From the Gods

“This was actually the plan in opposition to Rafa. Now I can say it as a result of I’m not going to face him anymore.”

Dominic Thiem is watching again one in every of many epic rallies he loved in opposition to Rafael Nadal, explaining, in a demob-happy sort of manner, his ways in opposition to the 22-time Grand Slam champion who beat him 10 occasions in 16 conferences.

The Herculean process of beating Nadal is just not one thing Thiem has to fret about anymore. Not as a result of Nadal is retiring subsequent month, however as a result of Thiem is thrashing him to leaving skilled tennis behind. He’ll say farewell this week, on the Vienna Open in his residence nation of Austria.

At 31, Thiem has been pressured to retire due to persistent wrist issues. Issues that he instructed The Athletic in August have been partly a consequence of making an attempt to chase down the ‘Huge Three’ of Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

It was a process Thiem took on with relish: solely Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro have extra profession wins in opposition to Nadal, Federer and Djokovic than these three have in opposition to one another. Thiem has a 5-2 report over Roger Federer, and he beat Nadal six occasions and Djokovic 5 occasions, successful 5 of his last seven conferences in opposition to these two. Thiem, who received his sole Grand Slam title on the 2020 U.S. Open, misplaced two Roland Garros finals to Nadal and one Australian Open last to Djokovic — statistically the toughest and second-hardest Grand Slam last assignments in males’s tennis historical past.

Thiem, thought to be some of the common gamers on the tour, was blessed with a picture-book backhand, but in addition a devastating forehand, which he says usually did extra injury. He was extraordinarily fast, pulling off spectacular acts of retrieval when all seemed misplaced.

One of the crucial watchable gamers of the final decade, The Athletic sat down with Thiem to relive a number of the key moments and rivalries from his profession as he says farewell to the game to which he gave a lot.

“Thanks very a lot for all that you’ve got given to all of us, significantly to tennis,” Djokovic mentioned when Thiem was given a lifetime achievement award on the Lotterien Sporthilfe Gala 2024 final month.

“You know the way a lot I love you and respect you,” added Nadal.

goodbye i’m sobbing

Nadal, Djokovic, Federer. all of them respect him a lot and understand how nice he was. it means the world to me. pic.twitter.com/PCo43fp7yH

— kieran (@opthiemist) October 3, 2024

That’s what his rivals thought, however what in regards to the man himself? What have been his biggest strengths and favorite photographs, and the way did he attempt to topple these three titans? That is Dominic Thiem, in his phrases.

GO DEEPER

‘I take into account myself fortunate’: Dominic Thiem and the agonising what-ifs of tennis

Dominic Thiem’s backhand — a factor of magnificence. (Julian Finney / Getty Photos)

We begin with the scene of Thiem’s biggest triumph, his defeat of Alexander Zverev within the 2020 U.S. Open last.

Thiem had misplaced his earlier three Grand Slam finals — all in opposition to Nadal or Djokovic — and in the summertime, instructed The Athletic that he felt an enormous quantity of stress lastly going into one in every of these matches because the favorite. He got here out flat and misplaced the primary two units, earlier than rallying to power a decider.

It was an odd match in a near-empty stadium due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and none of it was weirder than the final-set tiebreak. Cramps had ruined Thiem; rigidity had overwhelmed Zverev. Thiem in the end hauled himself over the road, thanks largely to 2 forehand-passing-shot winners.

How bizarre was it to play with no supporters within the stands?

It was the tip of the third, possibly fourth week within the bubble in New York and I actually bought used to it. The empty stadium wasn’t a difficulty in any respect. All of the officers have been watching so we had extra spectators than earlier than! It was like 100 individuals.

After we final spoke you mentioned you have been ‘too nervous’ for the primary two units, however you then discovered a option to get into the zone. The tiebreak feels extremely tense, so what was going by way of your head as you hit these forehands?

There was not rather a lot going by way of my head as a result of bodily, I used to be on the sting. With the expertise of all the previous matches, you understand that something can occur — he hits an ace and you then’re match level down. I used to be turning off the mind and simply enjoying — what you name ‘the circulation’.

After a protracted, nervy rally, Dominic Thiem lastly pulls the set off with a forehand cross down the road (U.S. Open)

Is it onerous to get into that state? Particularly in such a giant match when there’s a lot at stake? And particularly when, with the second level, whoever wins it’s up championship level?

It may be. However it’s a extremely good feeling. Right here, I used to be occurring intuition.

Together with his distinctively massive swing, Thiem finds one other forehand cross to convey up a 3rd championship level (U.S. Open)

For some time, Thiem was just about the one participant who might go toe to toe with Nadal on clay. The Spaniard received each of their French Open finals, in 2018 and 2019, however Thiem beat Nadal on the filth yearly between 2016 and 2019.

A kind of conferences got here in Madrid in 2018, when Thiem received a quarterfinal in Nadal’s residence nation 7-5, 6-3. Thiem explains what his ways have been in opposition to the best clay-court participant of all time…

That is in opposition to Rafa on clay. Most individuals affiliate you with the backhand and that’s your most well-known shot. Right here, you’re hitting an inside-out forehand after a succession of photographs into his backhand. How a lot did you want hitting that as nicely?

Folks affiliate me with the backhand however after I was enjoying my finest tennis I used to be developing the factors with my brow. It was so heavy. I used to be placing a lot energy, a lot spin on it. This level in comparison with the one in opposition to Sasha (Zverev) within the U.S. Open last was far more structured, and this was actually the plan in opposition to Rafa. Now I can say it as a result of I received’t face him anymore.

What was the plan?

Maintain it on his backhand after which play quick into the forehand. He had the same tactic, so the one on the offence first was dictating the factors. This level was very structured and it was a terrific, nice level.

After serving to the Nadal backhand, Thiem’s subsequent 5 photographs are all to that wing (Tennis TV)

In order that’s what you have been doing. And you then hit that forehand out to his forehand?

Precisely, sure. As a result of he has such a terrific forehand and so he’s all the time a little bit bit within the backhand nook to run round it. And the objective was to then play as quick as doable into his forehand.

Understanding Nadal is anticipating to hit one other backhand, Thiem goes for the kill and runs round his backhand to hit an inside-out forehand to his lefty opponent’s forehand (Tennis TV)

And that flicked little backhand there to complete.

Yeah, it was a pleasant shot, but it surely was once more sort of intuition as a result of it was a terrific drop shot from him. I needed to do one thing particular to win the purpose.

Nadal manages to retrieve the ball after which makes an attempt a drop shot. Thiem although chases it down and flicks a backhand cross down the road (Tennis TV)

Of the Huge Three, Thiem’s recreation matched up significantly nicely in opposition to Federer, who the Austrian beat in 5 of their seven conferences.

Thiem had the stronger backhand and so usually had the sting in the event that they bought drawn into cross-court rallies the place it got here right down to whose single-hander was much less more likely to break down.

Within the 2019 Indian Wells last, which Thiem received in three units for his solely Masters 1000 title, a few backhands — one cross-court, one hit down the road — helped shift the match’s momentum after Federer had received the primary set. 

This one in opposition to Federer, you’re a good distance again — however you fairly favored being again there and having that lengthy lead-up earlier than you hit your photographs.

It was a terrific return. However the margins are very small to make it efficiently, particularly in opposition to a man like Roger who might play serve-and-volley. So you’ve got possibly 20, 30cm to hit the ball. It was an essential level. Fortunately, I hit it there at that second.

Thiem is exterior the tramlines and virtually on the backboard when he takes this huge swing and fires a passing shot return winner past Roger Federer (Tennis TV)

You didn’t all the time play with a single-handed backhand although, proper?

Yeah, I switched after I was 12 (on the recommendation of former coach Gunter Bresnik).

What do you assume are the professionals and cons of enjoying with one?

You get an even bigger swing. You may also put extra topspin than most gamers who use the double-hander. You may also play the slice, which is essential.

I suppose the disadvantages are a bit extra with the single-handed backhand — it’s a must to be actually good to be on this planet’s prime 10 or 20 as a result of the two-handed backhand is extra steady in lengthy factors, and within the return and passing photographs. The return is now some of the essential photographs. Additionally if you happen to see how briskly the gamers are lately — Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner — it’s a bit simpler to be steady within the rally. 

Nonetheless, there are exceptions with nice one-handed backhands like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Grigor Dimitrov. They’ve distinctive ones. It’s robust and I’m frightened it’ll be (used) much less and fewer however hopefully, there’ll all the time be exceptions.

That is one other extremely highly effective shot. How did you get a lot energy on it? Typically individuals assume it’s tougher to get as a lot energy as a two-hander, however you handle that. Was that simply your physique sort or is it timing?

That was the physique sort and the approach. I used to be practising so many backhands that at one level, the timing was there and yeah, with my physique sort, I generated loads of energy on the backhand and the forehand. That was what my entire recreation was primarily based on.

What was it about your physique sort that gave you that energy?

I had good stability all through my physique as a result of I’m not the leanest man. Once I was enjoying nicely, I used to be very steady within the abdomen and within the again. And that’s so essential if you wish to have loads of energy.

What have been the principle variations between these three guys and what have been your ways in opposition to Roger and Novak?

Towards Roger, the tactic was all the time to maintain him on the backhand, seemingly with loads of spin — that was the one likelihood to maintain him away from getting near the baseline. Every little thing else, he was simply too good. In Indian Wells or Madrid, it was a bit simpler than on another surfaces. Indoors the place it was faster was manner more durable.

Thiem hits three backhands to Federer’s backhand earlier than unleashing this backhand down the road for a clear winner (Tennis TV)

Thiem and Djokovic loved some spectacular matches, together with two five-setters: one at Roland Garros in 2019 and the Australian Open last the next 12 months. In between, they performed a fair higher match within the group stage of the 2019 ATP Finals the place Thiem produced what he considers presumably one of the best shot of his profession, in a 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(5) win that lasted virtually three hours.

A part of what made their matches so good was the distinction in kinds and the truth that Thiem was one of many few gamers with sufficient energy to hit by way of Djokovic’s defences. 

It is a nice volley from a 2016 match on the ATP Finals which possibly we don’t all the time affiliate with you.

Yeah, it’s not a technically excellent volley but it surely works.

Thiem reveals off his stability and athleticism with a shocking volley (Tennis TV)

Look how low you hit it. What was your method in opposition to Novak?

The tactic was to blow him off the courtroom. That was the one likelihood I had. And again then, 2017 to 2019, I might do it (Thiem beat Djokovic 4 occasions on this interval). That was my greatest weapon as a result of from the baseline, he’s simply too steady. He’s simply too good.

This match from the ATP Finals in 2019 is from that interval and also you produced that sort of ‘blow him off the courtroom’ efficiency.

Precisely.

And also you collapsed to the ground on the finish. You’re simply so exhausted.

Yeah, possibly this one was one of the best best-of-three match I ever performed and I knew that in that second. That’s why I look so amazed on the finish.

Thiem celebrates after beating Djokovic (Tennis TV)

That forehand. How do you get that energy?

You possibly can see there what I mentioned earlier than in regards to the stability within the abdomen. I slide in, I keep steady and alter. And simply go for it. And like I mentioned, that was the tactic in opposition to Novak — simply to attempt to blow him off the courtroom.

That forehand down the road could be my favorite ever shot.

Thiem scuds a forehand up the road that even Djokovic can’t get to (Tennis TV)

How come? You’ve hit extra spectacular photographs.

Yeah, however this one was so tough after a protracted rally. Sliding in I used to be going full energy and it’s most likely one out of a 100 likelihood that the ball goes in. It might additionally go into the center of the web or like 50 metres out, but it surely went in on an important level.

This one is from the 2019 French Open semifinal in opposition to Novak. Was it a deliberate physique serve? Would you like the sluggish ball again since you’re joyful producing the facility?

Yeah, that was additionally one in every of my greatest weapons. Many gamers favor to play with the tempo of the opponent however I used to be fantastic if I bought sluggish balls. I used to be even proud of them as a result of I generated a lot energy myself.

A physique serve leaves a tangled Djokovic solely capable of loop a return into Thiem’s hitting zone (Roland Garros)

Is that why you have been one of many gamers who might beat Novak pretty usually, particularly on clay? He likes making gamers generate their very own tempo however you have been joyful to try this.

Sure, I believe so, as a result of I injected that further tempo in the course of the rally to get him in hassle.

Thiem has sufficient simple energy to wallop the ball past his stranded opponent (Roland Garros)

We end with just a few examples of Thiem’s eye for the spectacular, on the backhand and forehand sides.

That is in opposition to Nadal in Rome in 2017, a quarterfinal you received in straight units. Did you all the time have the velocity on show right here?

Yeah, I used to be all the time actually quick. It’s pure luck how your genetics are.

Having simply chased down a drop shot, Nadal sends a backhand into the nook for Thiem to run after (Tennis TV)

You possibly can practise it a bit but it surely’s a giant benefit to be quick across the courtroom and this backhand is actually, actually robust. It’s sprinting again after which hitting cross-court.

Is that tougher while you’ve been working backwards somewhat than aspect to aspect?

Yeah, positively.

Thiem not solely will get there however manages to rebalance himself and hit a backhand cross-court passing shot past Nadal (Tennis TV)

This one is in opposition to Mikhail Youzhny in Halle, Germany in 2018. Once more, that is simply outrageous energy.

The tempo of the rally was fairly sluggish. Slice to slice.

Once I needed to enhance the tempo, I might do it — and this was a really good backhand.

What’s hanging about this one is how low it stays over the web. You consider single-handed backhands usually looping up, however that’s barely over the web.

Yeah, that’s the one I like essentially the most. It’s even going a bit inside-out as a result of it has a little bit of the sidespin and topspin. That was my favorite shot.

Actually? So the forehand was usually the simpler wing however this was your favorite shot to hit?

Yeah, the backhand down the road. Many gamers didn’t anticipate it. That was the shot that would hit clear winners and also you wanted to have that.

One of many issues that made your backhand so distinctive was your means to hit it in an open stance (together with his ft parallel to the web.) How did you get a lot energy and stability doing that? It’s such a tough factor to drag off one-handed.

It’s humorous, one thing that occurred through the years was that my left leg was a lot stronger than the correct one by some means. After which mechanically I began to play many backhands within the open stance. From the start we have been discussing about it and if it was good or not, however in the long run I used to be enjoying it very well from the open stance with the left leg so we simply stored it that manner and it labored very well.

Within the instance we simply noticed in opposition to Youzhny your left leg is planted, and the correct one’s up within the air. Did you’re employed on strengthening your left leg? 

No, it simply occurred naturally. I believe it was as a result of with the serve I used to be all the time leaping and touchdown on the left leg so it sort of occurred mechanically.

While you began hitting that open-stance shot, did it’s a must to work on it rather a lot?

Yeah, however all the time from after I began the single-handed backhand, the down the road one was all the time a bit extra snug to me than the crosscourt.

Why?

I simply discovered that the approach was simpler to minimize the road. I virtually performed it inside-out typically, and that’s simply how I began with my approach and that’s why I believe I discovered the down the road simpler. I attempted it rather a lot as a result of I knew it was one in every of my greatest weapons, and will shock many gamers with that shot. As a result of it sort of got here out of nowhere so it appeared like many occasions the opponent was very far-off and that made it look much more spectacular.

This instance in opposition to Nadal from an exhibition in Adelaide just a few years in the past is an effective instance of this. You hit a crosscourt return, and it seems like he’s anticipating one other one crosscourt, and you then ship one flying up the road. You additionally hit it from so large — did it offer you a giant benefit that with that sturdy left leg you could possibly take a giant step out large? 

For positive, and after I was feeling good and comfy it made me belief my baseline recreation rather a lot as a result of I knew I might shock everyone. I used to be capable of keep in a crosscourt rally after which out of nothing play it down the road, and even after I was a little bit bit within the center I might virtually play it inside-out, and that was stunning everyone. I believe to beat one of the best gamers you want that shock shot.

Then this subsequent one, in opposition to Gilles Simon, you run across the backhand in a manner that’s virtually Nadal-like. Given how snug we’ve simply seen you have been hitting backhands from this sort of place, what would make you resolve to as an alternative hit an inside-out forehand?

The primary factor was that it helped my footwork to run across the forehand, to remain aggressive. I used to be tending to be a bit lazy on the footwork. Once I was working across the backhand nicely to hit the forehand, then I knew that my footwork was on. That it was there.

When Simon hits his shot, Thiem is in the course of the courtroom and appears higher set to hit a backhand (Tennis TV)

As an alternative, Thiem hits an inside-out forehand winner, and by the point he finishes the shot he’s moved to date that his left knee is exterior the tramline (Tennis TV)

We’ve seen photographs that showcase what made Thiem so particular, and why he was one of many solely gamers who might usually beat the Huge Three, however I’m wondering if there are any he thinks we’ve missed. 

Do you’ve got a favorite shot you’ve ever hit, apart from that one in opposition to Djokovic?

The tweener (between the legs shot) in opposition to Guido Pella on the Australian Open (in 2018).

This one?

Yeah, this shot is a bit underrated.

Why was it so good?

(We each snigger after watching it — given how self-evident the reply is to this query — earlier than he barely sheepishly responds.) You possibly can see. It’s simply… it’s actually, actually, actually good. So quick.

(I let loose an involuntary ‘oooh’ noise as we watch a replay)

Having been lobbed, Thiem chases again and produces this shot from between his legs (Australian Open)

What number of tweeners have you ever hit in your profession? 

I all the time tried it after I was getting lobbed. And this one, he’s on the baseline and it was a clear winner. I really like this shot.

Usually tweener winners are with the opponent on the web whereas Pella’s on the baseline. And it’s so low over the web.

Yeah, so low. However no, I used to be simply going for it and it was very fortunate as nicely.

With Nadal and Murray exiting the stage, 2024 has been a giant 12 months for retirements in males’s tennis. Thiem didn’t win as a lot as these two, however he was a key determine within the sport for years. A disruptor, a genuinely common particular person and a participant whose stunning approach just about everybody beloved watching.

It feels unhappy that his years chasing down the Huge Three got here at such a bodily value, however he emphasizes how a lot he feels grateful to have shared the stage with them, somewhat than resentful that they usually dashed his goals.

Thiem says two issues are most significant to him. The primary is the hope that he has impressed children in Austria to choose up a racket. The second goes past all of the spectacular photographs he hit: “I might like to be remembered to begin with as a very good man. That if you happen to come again sooner or later individuals such as you and are joyful to see you. That’s an important.”

It’s a becoming sentiment for such a popular participant, and as Federer put it: “Tennis will miss you very, very a lot”.

Dominic Thiem in full circulation. (Julian Finney / Getty Photos)

(High images: High quality Sport Photos / Getty Photos; Design: Kelsea Petersen)