He was only 31 years old when he announced his retirement. A wrist injury sidelined him from tennis shortly after winning his first Grand Slam title and challenging legends like Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Dominic Thiem should be on the court. He just turned 33, still loves tennis, and has talent to spare: he was the 2020 US Open champion and reached two French Open finals against Rafael Nadal and one against Novak Djokovic in Australia. But he's been retired since 2024. In 2021, he suffered the same right wrist injury that Carlos Alcaraz suffered this spring, and he never regained his form.
“I’m watching more tennis now than ever before. It’s more enjoyable without the pressure of having to play. I follow the US Open juniors because a kid from my academy, Thilo Behrmann, is playing, but I also watch a lot of Grand Slam matches. I’ve been surprised by the losses of Felix [ Auger - Aliassime ] and [ Arthur ] Fils , and especially by Carlos [Alcaraz]’s level. It’s impressive how he’s come back,” he says from his home in Austria, in a video call with EL MUNDO. The US Open owes him a tribute, but it will take a few years. He’s too young for that sort of thing.
What did you think when you found out about Alcaraz's injury, specifically to his right wrist?
I really hoped he would take his time, manage the injury well, and I think he has. I was surprised that he came back at a Grand Slam, with five-set matches and tough opponents, but obviously he was ready. With an injury, you need a lot of patience. I didn't return to playing very quickly, but I did return to training. And I broke my wrist for the second time. Everything Carlos did right, I did wrong. After the second break, I was never 100% again; that was my big mistake.
What is the hardest part about coming back from a wrist injury?
Fear. When you injure your wrist, you feel a lot of pain, and when you come back, you're afraid it will happen again. Even if you're only out for a few weeks, your wrist stiffens, you lose mobility, and that makes you feel insecure with every shot. You need time to regain your confidence. I haven't spoken to him, but I imagine that's why Carlos didn't play in the tournaments leading up to the US Open. It's commendable that both he and his team knew how to wait.
Are you afraid of a relapse for Alcaraz?
He's taken the time to heal completely. He's played tough matches in a difficult tournament and has done well, without pain or fear. It's very different from what happened to me when I came back. I spent a lot of time struggling while still injured and afraid of getting injured again.
You never played against Alcaraz. How would you have tried to beat him?
If I had faced him at my best, it would have been a fun match, no doubt about it. Both he and Sinner are the kind of players who don't have weaknesses, like the Big Three. When I played against Rafa or Novak, I studied them, but I couldn't find a way to hurt them. I just had to wait for them to have an off day. And then there's the consistency of these kinds of champions. Reaching the finals in every tournament you play is very difficult.
What do you remember about your 2020 US Open victory?
The match point. I remember it perfectly. Sometimes I'm walking down the street and I remember the match point. But also the preparation for the match, which wasn't easy, with a lot of pressure, and some crucial moments that decided the victory. And also the celebration, which, because of Covid, was strange, let's say.
You played in an empty stadium and could barely celebrate
On the court, I didn't care that there were only 50 people instead of 20,000 because I just wanted to win and I was completely focused. But afterward, when they gave me the title, the US Open director came and asked me, please, not to leave the bubble, not to cause any problems. So my celebration consisted of talking to my team while locked in my hotel room, giving interviews via Zoom, and then, the next day, going home to continue my self-isolation.
Did it change your life?
I thought it would change my life, but it didn't. I believed that after winning a Grand Slam, matches would be easier emotionally, that I would feel less pressure, that I would be calmer in crucial moments. But that wasn't the case. Tennis didn't change, and my life didn't change. What's more, I had a slight dip in motivation, which is understandable, and I got quite overwhelmed. I remember that the following year, in 2021, I didn't want to go to the Australian Open. I didn't give myself time to set new goals. I should have taken it all in stride.
Did you play your best tennis at that 2020 US Open?
No. I played very well in the semifinals [against Daniil Medvedev ], but my best tennis was at the Australian Open that same year [he lost the final to Djokovic]. It was my best moment, both in terms of my tennis and my physical condition.
You defeated Rafa Nadal in the quarterfinals of that Australian Open. Which was the best version of Nadal you played against?
The Nadal of the 2019 French Open final. I was close to my best form, I'd been playing really well, I'd beaten Novak in the semifinals, and I was coming in with a lot of confidence. I knew how to beat Rafa because I'd done it in Barcelona a few weeks earlier. And then he brought out his best. It was incredible. It was like standing before an endless mountain and trying to climb it. He didn't miss a single shot, he was very aggressive, I think he played the perfect match.
What made it so difficult to overcome?
At Roland Garros, the court and the ball were perfect for his game, but the hardest part was staying hopeful. I have to say it like that. You could serve at 215 km/h, risk it all on every point, hit one great shot after another, and still not be able to hurt him. There came a point when you lost faith. It was very disheartening.
What is your life like since you retired?
It's a completely new life. I'm discovering so many things. I play a lot of football and I've become a gym enthusiast. Before, I couldn't get too strong because it wouldn't affect my tennis, and now I'm building quite a bit of muscle. It's fun. I also read, run, and meet up with friends. Basically, I'm enjoying my free time. I started playing tennis when I was five, and for a long time, tennis was my whole life. Now people tell me I used to play matches for four or five hours, and it seems absurd to me.
There's a lot of debate surrounding tennis. Do you think the physical demands on players should be reduced?
That's the nature of professional sports. Tennis is global, loved by many, and there's a lot of money at stake. Balance is impossible. If a player doesn't push beyond their physical limits, another will come along and take their place. If you're exceptionally good, you can try to reduce your schedule, but you'll eventually push beyond your limits. That's inevitable.
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