Dominic Thiem

Dominic Thiem is an Austrian former professional tennis player who won the 2020 US Open and reached three other Grand Slam finals before retiring due to a wrist injury.

Dominic Thiem was born on 3 September 1993 in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, and began playing tennis at six, idolising fellow Austrians Stefan Koubek and Jürgen Melzer. He trained under coach Günter Bresnik, whose academy his father joined as a staff member in 1997, and was converted from a two-handed to a one-handed backhand at 11 — a demanding stylistic change that initially set back his development before becoming the defining weapon of his career. Thiem turned professional in 2011 and developed into one of the most powerful and aggressive baseline players of his generation, reaching a career-high singles ranking of world No. 3 on 2 March 2020. He reached back-to-back French Open finals in 2018 and 2019, losing both to Rafael Nadal. Thiem's signature triumph came at the 2020 US Open, where he came back from two sets down against Alexander Zverev to win in five sets — the first man to do so in a US Open final since 1949 — becoming the first player born in the 1990s to win a Grand Slam singles title and the first Austrian man to win a major since Thomas Muster in 1995. A serious wrist injury sustained in 2021 significantly derailed the remainder of Thiem's career, and he never fully recovered his previous form, ultimately retiring following the 2024 Vienna Open with 17 ATP titles and over $30 million in career prize money.

Thiem was known for his powerful single-handed backhand, which was considered one of the best shots in modern tennis. His aggressive baseline game and exceptional movement on clay courts made him a formidable opponent, particularly on slower surfaces. He possessed tremendous topspin and could generate explosive power from both wings while maintaining excellent court coverage.

Thiem's 2020 US Open victory marked a significant moment in tennis history as he broke through the dominance of the Big Three era to claim his first major title.

• US Open 2020
• three Grand Slam finals
• 17 ATP Tour singles titles