Dominic Thiem: ‘Rafael Nadal is the best role model for me’
Dominic Thiem has pointed to Rafael Nadal a s big inspiration in his comeback to the top of the men’s game.
The former world number three suffered a wrist injury in June of last year that sidelined him for nine months. After a string of agonising defeats left him without a tour win for 14 months, Thiem is slowly returning to his former level.
Though Nadal has never suffered such a rankings tumble as the Austrian, Thiem has identified the grit shown by the Spaniard to return from injury as something to strive for.
“[Nadal] is probably the best role model for this experience,” Thiem told AS. “He did it not just once but four or five times to come back from a long injury time of six months or even more. And the form was always amazing. So it’s a great inspiration.”
Dominic Thiem is fighting his way back up the rankings in 2022. He fell as low as 352nd in June. But now with a strong run at the inaugural Gijon Open, the 29-year-old will return to the top 150.
Thiem has claimed three top 30 wins since July. Moreover, he believes he has what is required to complete a return to the very top of the sport.
“I have the belief that I can win a Grand Slam again,” he revealed. “If not, I would give up my career. I went through bad times but I would have the feeling that I am getting closer to my best version.”
Thiem has not won a Slam match in three appearances since making it to the fourth round of the 2021 Australian Open.
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