Dominic Thiem reveals which member of the Big 3 was the toughest to beat for him

Dominic Thiem has beaten the Big 3 members (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic) 16 times in his career.

Dominic Thiem reveals which member of the Big 3 was the toughest to beat for him

Dominic Thiem picks the hardest to beat between the Big 3 (Via Imago/X)

Dominic Thiem will join the list of many tennis players in the “What if” category. The Austrian tennis player competed against the Big 3 (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic) consistently during his prime.

However, things changed completely after he injured his wrist during the 2021 grasscourt season. Reflecting on his prime years, Thiem gave a few hints as to which member of the Big 3 was the most difficult to beat.

YouTube video

Regardless of the answer, Thiem competed against three of the greatest tennis players of all time and fought hard. He defeated Nadal six times, with most of those wins coming on the left-hander’s favorite surface, clay.

FS Video
I had really legendary matches against the best players in our era. Maybe the best players in history. Each of them is unique. I have the feeling it depends on the day and the surface who’s the toughest to play. I had matches where I was winning against them, but I also had matches where I didn’t have any chance and they made me look like almost a beginner. Each of them is unique.
Dominic Thiem said in his post-match press conference on Monday

Thiem had a positive head-to-head record against Federer (5-3). Moreover, he defeated Djokovic in big tournaments like Roland Garros (twice) and the World Tour Finals.

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Ben Shelton ends Dominic Thiem’s Grand Slam career at the US Open

13th seed Ben Shelton has started strong at this year’s US Open. Last year’s semi-finalist, the American beat former champion Dominic Thiem with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory to move into the second round.

Dominic Thiem and Ben Shelton
Dominic Thiem and Ben Shelton (via SuperSport)

Shelton made headlines in New York last year as the youngest American man to reach the semi-finals at the hard-court major since Michael Chang in 1992. On Monday, the 21-year-old looked confident as he controlled the match against Thiem at Arthur Ashe Stadium. This win improved Shelton’s record against Thiem to 2-1.

Thiem was playing his final US Open. The 30-year-old Austrian, set to retire later this year, had a strong history at the tournament. He won his first and only Grand Slam title here in 2020 after an epic comeback against Alexander Zverev.

After his defeat to Shelton, the former World No. 3 received a standing ovation from the crowd. He was also presented with a photo collage on the court to honor his career.

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