Dominic Thiem Embraces Life After Tennis, Shares Thoughts on Alcaraz and Zverev
Since retiring last October after years of battling a persistent right wrist injury, Dominic Thiem has found peace and fulfillment away from the sport that defined his life.
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a racket in my hand, but now my daily life is completely different. Tennis is a closed chapter,” Thiem shared during an exclusive interview at a Red Bull event held at the David Lloyd gym courts in Aravaca, just outside Madrid. “I now live a much more relaxed life.”
Although he has no immediate plans to transition into coaching, Thiem leaves behind an illustrious career, boasting a Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells, multiple ATP 500 trophies—including the Conde de Godó—and his crowning achievement, the 2020 US Open title, where he staged a remarkable comeback to defeat a young and inexperienced Alexander Zverev in five sets (2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6).
Thiem on Zverev’s Grand Slam Pursuit: ‘Opportunities Will Come’
Now watching the sport from a fresh perspective, the Austrian closely follows the current ATP circuit. Commenting on Zverev’s recent Grand Slam struggles—having lost his third major final—Thiem remains optimistic about his former rival’s chances.
“Sasha just lost another Grand Slam final, but I firmly believe that if he keeps playing at this level, more opportunities will come his way,” Thiem noted. “Who knows? There might be a tournament where Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner exit early, and suddenly, Sasha finds his opening. It’s similar to my own journey—I lost my first three Grand Slam finals before finally breaking through to win one.”
Alcaraz’s ‘Mind-Blowing’ Talent and Historic Trajectory
Turning his attention to world No. 3 Alcaraz, Thiem holds a strong opinion on the young Spaniard’s career trajectory, acknowledging both his brilliance and occasional inconsistency.
“He’s only 21 and has already won four Grand Slams,” Thiem emphasized. “People talk about his ups and downs, but when you look at the level he plays at, those fluctuations are happening at an unbelievably high standard. Carlos is a player capable of doing anything on a tennis court. Even when it seems like he’s struggling, the truth is, he’s still performing at an incredible level.”
A self-proclaimed admirer of Alcaraz, Thiem considers him one of the most exciting players in modern tennis.
“I love watching him play—he’s spectacular,” he said. “Honestly, he’s probably already one of the best players in tennis history. Four Grand Slams at 21? That’s more than what Andy Murray or Stan Wawrinka achieved in their entire careers. It’s crazy.”
Predicting Alcaraz’s Future: ‘One or Two More Grand Slams This Season’
Looking ahead, Thiem believes that if Alcaraz remains injury-free, he will continue adding to his already impressive résumé.
“If everything goes smoothly and he avoids serious injuries, I think he’ll win one or two more Grand Slams this season,” he predicted.
Interestingly, despite sharing the ATP circuit with Alcaraz for six seasons, Thiem never had the opportunity to face him on court.
“I don’t know if he’ll reach the heights of Roger Federer (20 Grand Slams), Rafael Nadal (22), or Novak Djokovic (24), but I have no doubt he’ll retire as one of the greatest players in history,” he asserted.
‘Alcaraz is Writing His Own Story’
Naturally, comparisons between Alcaraz and Nadal are frequent, but Thiem believes their playing styles differ significantly.
“I understand why people compare him to Rafa—they’re both Spanish—but if you look deeper, they’re completely different players,” Thiem explained. “One is left-handed, the other is right-handed. Rafa loved to defend and grind out points, while Carlos plays a much riskier, aggressive style. Their approaches to the game are distinct.”
Ultimately, Thiem is confident that Alcaraz is forging his own legacy.
“In the end, Carlos is writing his own story. And if there’s one thing for sure, he’s doing it remarkably well. For Spain, it must be incredible to witness.”
