Dominic Thiem managed to reach two Roland Garros finals during his career, but unfortunately for him, he was faced with Rafael Nadal in both.
The Austrian great made his first Grand Slam championship match in Paris during the 2018 season, having beaten the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas, Matteo Berrettini and Alexander Zverev en route.
In the final, Thiem was dominated by Nadal in straight sets, 6–4, 6–3, 6–2, with the Spaniard claiming a record-extending 11th French Open crown.
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Then, the following year, he met the King of Clay in the title bout once again, and although he managed to take a set, he was still beaten 6–3, 5–7, 6–1, 6–1.
Reflecting on the 2019 match, Thiem recently shared a story about what Nadal did that day, which he was never able to tell as an active player.
Dominic Thiem reflects on the 2019 Roland Garros final
Speaking on the ‘More Than A Name‘ podcast, Thiem said: “First of all, 2019, the second French Open final, I was really convinced that I could beat Rafa in the finals because I played a great tournament.
“I beat Novak in the semis in an epic semis, and then I was really convinced that I could beat Rafa, and that was also my mindset throughout the hours before the finals.
“But there’s quite a funny story, which I can tell now. I wouldn’t tell it as an active player, but now yes. So, I think like four or five weeks before, I played Rafa in the semis of Barcelona. And I was beating him four and four.
“I played really well, but not my best tennis, but I still beat him in two sets, which gave me a lot of confidence for the French Open.
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“I remember, before the finals [of Barcelona], there were not many people left in the players’ restaurant. The final was at, I think, 3 pm or whatever and until 2.40 or something, Rafa is like sitting with his phone. I think he was checking boats because he loves it so much, you know?
“And then he went to warm up, of course, and then I beat him. And then it was the day of the French Open final, which started at three and at 2:15, I went from the restaurant to my last preparations, and then I saw him at 2:30.
“I saw Rafa in the locker room, and he was with headphones, and he had such a focused look on his face. And I think okay, s—, that’s different from Barcelona. I might be in trouble.”
Dominic Thiem says Rafael Nadal approached Roland Garros differently
Nadal set arguably the most incredible record in tennis at Roland Garros by winning the tournament 14 times.
No men’s player in history has won more singles titles at the same major than Nadal, and Thiem thinks his 2018 and 2019 conqueror took a different approach mentally in Paris compared to other tournaments.
He said: “So I think, once he came to the French Open, he had a different mindset than all the other tournaments. And yeah, I was still convinced, obviously, that I’m playing so well and that I could beat him.
“But the level he played in the 2019 finals was ridiculously high. And, yeah, there he showed that I think when he’s playing at his best, he’s invincible in Roland Garros.”
Over a year after his 2019 defeat at Roland Garros, Thiem finally got his hands on a Grand Slam title at the 2020 US Open.
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