SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
Search:
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Latest News
Featured News
Book Reviews
Videos
ATP Singles
ATP Doubles
WTA Singles
WTA Doubles
News
Scores
Rankings
Lucky Letcord Podcast
Shop
Pro Gear
Pickleball
Gear Sale
Popular This Week
Medvedev Has Mixed Emotions on Premium Tour
Nadal Pumped to Partner Alcaraz in Olympics
Nadal on Roland-Garros: Hope Will Decide if He Plays
Sinner: Dreaming Big on Dirt
Alcaraz: Pain-Free but Unwilling to Hit Forehand wit...
HJTEP 52nd Annual Gala Set for NYC, Tickets on Sale ...
Sabalenka: Watching Men's Tennis More Fun
Net Posts
Industry Insider
Second Serve
Add to Flipboard Magazine.
Thiem: First Is Foremost vs. Nadal
The last man to beat
Rafael Nadal
on red clay says first is foremost to conquering the king of clay on dirt.
Dominic Thiem
swept Nadal in last month's Madrid quarterfinals, 7-5, 6-3.
Watch:
Rafa Nadal Revelations
That victory came a year after Thiem toppled Nadal, 6-4, 6-3, in the 2017 Rome quarterfinals. Thiem is one of the few men in the world with a one-handed backhand to beat both Nadal and Roger Federer on red clay.
The seventh-seeded Austrian says being first is the only way to outlast the 10-time French Open champion on dirt.
"The thing is that against many, many guys you know they have a little drop (off) at one point, but not Rafa," Thiem told Tennis Channel's Jon Wertheim. "It doesn't matter if he plays one hour or five hours, he won't give you one second to breathe.
"Of course that's even tougher to (beat Nadal) best-of-five. That's why I think it's important to win the first set against him. If you don't do it, it's gonna be a long way."
Both of Nadal's Roland Garros losses—to Robin Soderling in the 2009 fourth round and to Novak Djokovic in the 2015 quarterfinals—came after he dropped the first set. Nadal is 7-2 lifetime when losing the opening set in Paris.
Thiem, who will face 72nd-ranked Marco Cecchinato for a spot in the French Open final, has also absorbed severe thrashings from Nadal on dirt.
The 10-time Roland Garros champion crushed Thiem, 6-0, 6-2, in the Monte-Carlo quarterfinals last April and permitted just seven games to the Austrian in the French Open semifinals last year.
Thiem said embracing the challenge and the power of self-belief are vital to achieving the toughest task in tennis.
"There is not only one thing, but the most important is still the belief to win even though it's tough," Thiem said. "It's easy to go in and say you have no chance against him because most of the time it is like that.
"I like to play him. It's the biggest challenge in tennis, one of the biggest challenges in sport. That's why I'm practice, that's why I did this all my life. It's great fun to play him."
Posted:
Latest News
15-Love: Collins Scores 15th Straight Win in Madrid
Alcaraz Continues Madrid Dominance with Win over Sey...
Rybakina Rides Hot Hand Past Sherif in Madrid
Celebration Song: Fierce Nadal Fights Off de Minaur ...
Swiatek Flies into Madrid Round of 16
Monteiro Shocks Tsitsipas in Madrid Upset
TENNISNOW.COM
News
Blogs
Vlogs
Forums
Arcade
Members
TENNIS NOW TV
Daily News Vlog
Gear Guide
Catching Up With...
Feeds
News Feed
Blog Feed
TV Feed
ON TOUR
Scores
Player Profiles
ATP Calendar
WTA Calendar
TV Listings
PARTNERS
Instructional
Find Tennis Lessons Near You
Tennis Lessons Online with Tom Avery
Fuzzy Yellow Balls - Video Tennis Lessons
Tennis Gear
Tennis Express - Racquets, Shoes, and Apparel
About Us
|
Contact Us
|
Links Directory
|
Privacy Policy