It was the summer of 2011: the media representatives made themselves comfortable in the press room in Kitzbühel. Most people were excited, only a few knew him 17 year olds already.
But of all people, the boy about whom miracles had already been told was missing. I found Dominic Thiem playing with a cell phone in a side room. “I apologize very much,” said the shy junior after his first ATP appearance, in which he flashed his talent in the defeat against the Spaniard Gimeno-Traver. “I believed the whole thing was here.”
After further apologies, the well-mannered Dominic quickly went to the press area to patiently answer questions. Shy, but with clear statements. Not as a self-promoterbut as a teenager who loves his job and despite traction knew what he could become.
Please no comparisons!
His coach, manager and mentor also knew this at the time Günter Bresnikwho vehemently insisted on his protégé after the first successes never to be compared with Thomas Muster.
After the first successes, Bresnik, like all other managers, knew on the one hand who played an important role in the media, but also who had already reported on the little boy before, who always suspected what would happen could become him.
And the latter were also able to take part in the biggest red-white-red successes in 20 years. Even if he is in between New York Times or other world-class media, he also took time for local, well-known faces. In 2011, when he first joined the French Open reached a Grand Slam final among the juniors, it was no different than in his professional years, when he was his most successful at Roland Garros, despite the US Open triumph in 2020 (the tournament took place behind closed doors due to the corona). Location, after the training, questions were answered.
September 2020: Thiem wins the US Open
Even right before his biggest matches, the finals against Rafael Nadal. If there are Austrians there, then I talk to them too. Even a TV expert Boris Becker had to wait a short time. A professionally maintained closeness, which also applies to managers Herwig Straka didn’t change.
Wrong ways
Things only changed when Thiem was no longer a top player. Part unfortunate personnel decisions also caused a slight decline in popularity – and not just among the media. But only at home (you know the saying about the prophets), especially on social media, Austria’s figurehead was treated more than just unfairly.
Could he have done more with his career? His biggest obstacle may not have been the injury. Thiem had to struggle with another problem: gambling in his generation Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and especially Rafael Nadal.
But he beat them all several times on their favorite surfaces. In some unbelievable matches.
For that reason alone he leaves a huge gap. As Tennis professional, as a star, as a person. Let’s celebrate again in Vienna!
