At the end of a totally crazy final, like this improbable 2020 edition of the US Open, Dominic Thiem entered the prestigious circle of Grand Slam winning players.
After three failures in the final (Roland-Garros 2018 and 2019 against Nadal and Australian Open 2020 against Djokovic) and despite extreme excitement, the Austrian, world number 3, did not let his chance pass against the 'unfathomable Zverev (2-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (6)), third player in the Open era to stumble when serving for a Major (at 5-3 in 5th set).
A logical outcome, despite the unexpected unfolding of events.
In the absence of the Big 3 (Nadal package, Federer injured and Djokovic disqualified), Thiem was the favorite at the top of his 27 years against the new generation of Medvedev (24), Zverev (23) or Tsitsipas (22).
It remains to be seen what this title will change in the career of Nicolas Massu's protégé and in the eyes of his rivals.
"I hope to play in a more liberated way"
“The question is: how am I going to deal with all the emotions, mentally?
I have never been in this situation.
I have just accomplished a huge goal, I don't know how I will react in the next few days, ”he admits.
Even if he likes the surface, Thiem will have to manage the descent on earth.
In this unprecedented season, Roland-Garros is already waiting for him at the corner of the court in two weeks.
Over the past two years, he has stumbled on the last step.
"I tell myself that it should be easier for me now in big tournaments because, in the back of my mind, even though I already had a much better career than anything I could have dreamed of, I still had a big goal to achieve, analyzes the new king of New York.
Now that it's done, I hope I will be a little more relaxed and play more liberally in the big tournaments.
"
𝗡 𝗘 𝗩 𝗘 𝗥 GIVE UP @ ThiemDomi is a Grand Slam champion 🏆👏 pic.twitter.com/TZUkCHvd2u
- Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) September 14, 2020
This big fan of Chelsea has won the right to sit at the table of Nadal and Djokovic and serves as the designated successor to the Mallorcan (winner of 12 editions out of the last 15) to one day lift the Musketeers Cup.
From October 11?
"For him, it's a huge relief," testifies Novak Djokovic, 17 Grand Slams on the clock.
I remember my first Grand Slam title in 2008
(Editor's note: Australian Open against Tsonga)
.
After that, we believe in ourselves even more, we feel less pressure compared to our expectations.
For Roland, Dominic is just behind Rafa in terms of favorites.
We see that Rafa preferred to skip the US Open to train.
We will see what will happen.
"
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Nadal will return to the court in Rome this Wednesday after six and a half months of abstinence.
The match is on ...
The numbers to remember
1.
Dominic Thiem is the first new winner of a Grand Slam tournament since Croatian Marin Cilic at the 2014 US Open. The Austrian is also the first winner outside of “Big 3” - a trio made up of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic - since Stan Wawrinka, already crowned in New York, in 2016.
4.
Thiem had to wait until his 4th Grand Slam final to register his name on the list of a Major.
He had failed twice at Roland Garros (2018, 2019) and once at the Australian Open (2020).
71.
You have to go back to 1949, that is 71 years, to find the trace of a victory in the American Major final by a player who was led 2 sets to nothing.
It was the American Pancho Gonzales.
A time when tennis was still amateur.
In Grand Slam, Argentinian Gaston Gaudio is the last to have achieved this performance.
It was in 2004, at Roland-Garros, against Coria.
