Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem played an exhibition match in Adelaide ahead of the last year’s Australian Open. Rafa won, and it turned out to be their only meeting in 2021, as they both struggled with injuries and wrapped up the season earlier than expected.
Asked about Nadal, Thiem placed the Spaniard among the three most significant players in men’s tennis alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Dominic stated it was an honor and privilege to meet Rafa and share the court with such a great rival.
Nadal and Thiem have played 15 matches between 2014 and 2020, with the Austrian toppling the better-ranked opponent no less than six times, including four remarkable triumphs on clay. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, Nadal prevented Thiem from lifting the Roland Garros trophy, beating him once in the semis and two title matches.
At the 2020 Australian Open, Dominic prevailed over Rafa 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 after four hours and ten minutes of a grueling battle! The Austrian advanced to his fifth Major semi-final and the first outside clay, facing Alexander Zverev for a place in the final.
Thiem was the more aggressive player and claimed the opening two sets’ pivotal points to build a massive advantage. Dominic won five points more than Rafa, blasting around 65 winners to keep the points on his racquet and leaving the 2009 champion far behind in the more extended rallies.
As the result suggests, the Spaniard had his chances in all three sets he lost, losing ground when it mattered the most and cracking under pressure to propel the Austrian through.
Dominic Thiem says it was an honor to meet Rafael Nadal and play against him.
Their most recent encounter came at last year’s ATP Finals and went down to the wire.
In one of the season’s best matches, Dominic defeated Rafa 7-6, 7-6 in two hours and 25 minutes to maintain a perfect record in London. The Austrian survived all the obstacles in an incredible encounter, winning five consecutive tie breaks against the Spaniard if we count the Australian Open and securing the sixth victory over Rafa.
There were only two breaks of serves in games seven and eight of set number two. They stayed neck and neck all the time and produced an excellent level of tennis that was well-worth of the title clash. Thiem and Nadal are not competing in Montreal this week, and maybe we can see their clash at the upcoming US Open if the Austrian decides to play it.
“Rafael Nadal is one of three men’s tennis GOATs. It was an honor to meet him and share the court with him many times,” Dominic Thiem said.
