The Austrian won his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open last year. But since then, his career has been on a downward spiral as he has struggled for motivation after fulfilling his childhood dream.
To make matters worse, Thiem suffered a wrist injury at the Mallorca Championships and was forced to miss Wimbledon, as well as a host of other events.
But despite his recent struggles, many still regard Thiem as the best bet to end the dominance of the Big 3 – Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer – at the Grand Slams. In a recent interview with Agencia Efe, Thiem was asked if he considers himself the heir to the legendary trio.
In response, the Austrian admitted that he had endured a difficult year but hopes to be back to his best early next year. Thiem further claimed that once he does return to his best, he has the ability to beat the Big 3 and win titles.
Thiem also reckons that other young players can challenge the Big 3 for their throne. But the 27-year-old shot down the notion that there can be an “heir” to Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, saying none of the young players will be able to win 20 Majors.
Although Thiem has pulled out of the National Bank Open and the Cincinnati Masters, he still harbors hopes of playing at the US Open.
“There is almost no pressure” - Dominic Thiem on a potential return at the US Open
Assuming Dominic Thiem regains his fitness in time for the US Open, he will enter the field as the defending champion.
When asked if he would feel the weight of expectations on his shoulders, the World No. 6 explained that he would have felt burdened if he was participating in the event under normal circumstances. But given that Thiem has barely played any tennis lately and is still recovering from his injury, he does not believe he would feel any pressure.
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