Dominic Thiem has described Emma Raducanu’s unprecedented run to the US Open title as a milestone moment in the history of women’s sport.
The British 18-year-old stunned the world of tennis in New York by becoming the first ever qualifier to win a major title. Raducanu entered the tournament ranked 150th in the world and was only playing in her fourth WTA Tour event. Nevertheless, she won 10 matches in a row without dropping a single set. During her run she beat top 20 players Belinda Bencic and Maria Sakkari. In the final she defeated fellow rising star Leylah Fernandez.
Reacting to Raducanu’s breakthrough performance, Thiem says it was ‘one of the greatest’ moments ever witnessed in sport. The Austrian won the US Open in 2020 but was unable to defend his title this year due to a wrist injury.
“For me, it’s one of the greatest achievements ever in women’s sports,” Thiem told Omnisport on Monday.
“It’s an incredible journey if you look at the stats. She didn’t lose one set the whole tournament. She came from qualifying and she didn’t even play one tiebreak.
“That’s simply amazing and something that probably was never witnessed before.
“And also the way she plays, her technique, the way she moves, somehow she brought it up to a new level for the whole game … it was great to see.”
Raducanu is the first female player from her country to win a major tournament since 1977. As a result of her New York triumph, she has surged up the rankings to a high of 23rd in the world and has an outside shot at playing in the WTA Finals later this year depending on her results at upcoming events.
Shortly after lifting the US Open trophy, Raducanu says she will continue to take things as they come and has vowed to stay grounded. Although that might be easier said than done for an athlete who has gone from being relatively unknown to becoming one of the most sought after athletes in the world in less than a year.
“For me, I don’t feel absolutely any pressure,” she said. “I’m still only 18 years old. I’m just having a free swing at anything that comes my way. That’s how I faced every match here in the States. It got me this trophy so I don’t think I should change anything.”
Djokovic was under pressure
As for the events that unfolded in the men’s tournament at Flushing Meadows, Thiem believes nerves played a part in Novak Djokovic’s final performance. The world No.1 lost in straight sets to Daniil Medvedev who won his maiden major title at the age of 25. Djokovic was on the verge of achieving the Calendar Slam which hasn’t happened on the men’s Tour since in 1968. Following his defeat, the Serbian described the past few months on the Tour for him as ‘emotionally very damaging.’
Despite suffering a blow in his quest to become the most decorated Grand Slam singles player in the history of men’s tennis, Thiem believes Djokovic will bounce back even stronger in the new season.
“I expect him to be as strong as ever in 2022. I think after he won in Roland Garros, everybody was only talking about the calendar slam – first about the golden slam, and then about the calendar slam,” Thiem told Stats Perform on Monday.
“He [Djokovic] was under pressure. Nobody can feel that or anything like that because of it being the calendar slam.
“I can feel it in a smaller way, probably from last year’s final and from some other matches. And at some points it’s just getting to you. And so, I really felt for him as well towards the end of the match.
“So, it can happen that it also makes him even stronger next year when all these talks and all this pressure is not that big anymore.”
Medvedev’s win has raised questions once again about if there is a changing in the guard happening in men’s tennis with the next generation breaking through and ending the dominance of the Big Three. Djokovic, who is the youngest member of the Big Three, was the only member of the duo who played in New York this year. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal withdrew from the event due to injury.
“For me, there are three GOATs in the game, and each of them has achieved something very unique,” Thiem commented.
“So it’s still the same for me as it was before. The three of them are the best in the history to me.
“And I’m only super happy to be in the same era with them and to be able to compete with them. Hopefully many more times next year again.”
Thiem is set to return to competitive tennis at the start of 2022 after ending his season early due to injury.
