“A Good Human” – Rafael Nadal on Dominic Thiem After US Open 2020 Triumph

After six years we have got a new Grand Slam champion, Dominic Thiem defeated Alexander Zverev in the US Open 2020 final. And many including 19-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal congratulated the Austrian for the achievement.

In a pre-tournament press conference for the Italian Open, Nadal congratulated ‘hard-worker’ Dominic Thiem for his first Grand Slam title. Rafa said Thiem fully deserved the victory.

“Happy for Dominic if somebody deserves to win a big title is him. Super hard worker very focused on his goals, good person….that’s a good human and he deserves it,” Nadal said.

Rafael Nadal points out why Dominic Thiem deserved the US open 2020 title

Nadal also appreciated Alexander Zverev for reaching the finals. And Rafa pointed out that Thiem’s journey to the finals was solid when compared to Zverev and so the Austrian deserved it.

“Sorry for Sasha he was close but in some way, I think even if sash played a great final for a moment I think that the road to the final from Dominic a little bit solid so in some way, he deserved the title. But after so many years of hard work, Dominic deserves it.”

Rafa Nadal returns to the tour after skipping the US part of the resuming calender. Nadal had earlier withdrawn from the US Open given the pandemic situation in the US. Nadal has been practicing on the clay since the lockdowns were lifted. With the majority of the players coming from playing on the hardcourt, Nadal could be well ahead of them in terms of practice, but it will be interesting to see whether Nadal shows signs of rustiness as he plays his first match in 6 months.

As for Dominic Thiem, he has withdrawn from the Italian Open. He will fly straight to Paris to play in the French Open. The Austrian goes into the French Open as a Grand Slam champ and a two-time defending runner-up after losing consecutive finals to Nadal in 2018 and 2019. Thiem will be one of the few in prime position to challenge Rafa Nadal for the French Open.

Read More: “Little Bit Worse”: Rafael Nadal Opens up on Match Fitness Ahead of Italian Open 2020