Google News Dominic Thiem: I'd choose rematch of 2019 French Open final against Rafael Nadal
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 6114
Dominic Thiem reveals he would choose a rematch of the 2019 French Open final against Rafael Nadal over a rematch of the 2020 Australian Open final against Novak Djokovic. Thiem, 29, suffered back-to-back French Open final defeats in 2018 and 2019.
Both times, Thiem was beaten by the now-record 14-time French Open champion Nadal. At the start of the 2020 season, Thiem made his third Grand Slam final at the Australian Open. In the 2020 Australian Open final, Thiem fell short in a five-setter to the now-record 10-time Australian Open champion Djokovic.
During a conversation with Casper Ruud on Eurosport's Ruud Talk, Thiem was asked which rematch he would take if he had a chance to do so.
Thiem: I'd choose a rematch of the 2019 RG final against Nadal
“Yeah, it's a very good question.
It's both their most successful tournaments by far. But if I could choose one re-match, I would still choose the 2019 Roland-Garros final, maybe with a slightly different preparation, with all the rain delays. I played four days in a row before the final, and then, I would do some things differently, especially after that second set.
Yeah, some things are coming to my mind - and it's clay. It's the tournament maybe I love the most, I played my best tennis in, and probably I would choose this one," Thiem told Ruud on Eurosport's Ruud Talk. In the 2018 French Open final, Thiem didn't stand much of a chance as Nadal saw off the Austrian 6-4 6-3 6-2.
The following year, Thiem managed to take a set off Nadal but still didn't come anywhere near winning the final as the Spaniard won 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1. After losing his first three Grand Slam finals, Thiem finally became a Grand Slam champion after beating Alexander Zverev in the 2020 US Open final.