“Thiem Could Offer a Huge Challenge”: Tennis Legend Argues Rafael Nadal’s Hold on the French Open Can End

For a long time now, fans are waiting for the NextGen of tennis to win a Grand Slam and the only one who has come close is – Dominic Thiem. He has reached 3 finals and he lost 2 of them to Rafael Nadal at the French Open. However, Annabel Croft believes that it may not happen again this year.

At the start of 2020, Thiem had an incredible run to the final of the Australian Open. On his way, he beat Rafa in a 4-set thriller, and Annabel Croft feels that this was a big moment. She feels that now he could offer an even bigger challenge to Rafael Nadal at the French Open as she said,

“At this stage you would have to say that Nadal is likely to be the favourite to win in Paris again. But I sense that Thiem could offer a huge challenge this year. You can never take Djokovic out of the equation, but his defeat to Thiem in last year’s semi-finals at Roland Garros suggested that the Austrian has an edge over the Serb on clay.”

“Thiem has played in three Grand Slam finals so far. He lost his first in three sets, lost his second in four and his third in five. Everything suggests that he is improving all the time, which might mean only one thing if – or when – he reaches final number four.”

Dominic Thiem At US Open 2020

While Thiem could win his first Slam at the French Open, he may not have to wait that long. He is currently playing the 2020 US Open and he is already in the third round of the event.

There, he will be facing Croatian Marin Cilic who can pose a tough challenge. However, the Austrian is more motivated than ever to win a Slam and that is why he will be bringing out his best when he plays today.

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