Dominic Thiem looked back on his journey to the Indian Wells title in 2019, where he beat Roger Federer in the final. The former world number 3 admitted he got ‘destroyed’ by the Swiss star as he explained how he managed to turn things around after being trailed by a set and praised Federer for being ‘incredibly nice despite losing a close league game.
As Indian Wells officially kicks off for 2023, one of the tournament’s former champions recalled his own victory in the California desert, which involved a now-retired Federer. Four years ago, Thiem won his first – and so far only – Masters title against the then fourth seed.
In that dramatic final, Federer had taken a one-set lead before the Austrian forced a decisive set, where the 41-year-old was two points short of the title before losing. Federer could have achieved the “sunshine double” that year, as he won the Miami Open, but Thiem deprived him of one last title in Indian Wells before he was injured and retired.
The 29-year-old reflected on the difficult game and said it was “amazing” to see one of the best players be so happy with his success, even in defeat. “I remember of all the finals I played, it was actually one of the most relaxed approaches from my side because I started the season badly,” Thiem explained.
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“And I found myself in the final of a Masters 1000 against Roger, who was playing very well that time”. Currently ranked 102nd in the world, Thiem said he couldn’t have played a better first set and was still “destroyed” which is a credit to Federer.
He continues: “I knew how Roger could play and I know why everyone likes to watch him, but there, I felt him as an opponent. He made everything look easy and I played a great first set, didn’t do much wrong but he destroyed me. I played one of my best sets, I would say, on hard court and lost 3-6.
Thiem was able to get the break early in the second set which proved crucial and provided an update on his comeback against one of the greatest players in the world. “I felt like I was playing well, but Roger was on the other side. It’s a big day, so I don’t have a chance. And then I took a break and things changed a bit and I was also playing really well at that time,” he explained.
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“The third set, I approached it by telling myself that in a single set, I could beat anyone, anytime. I was just hoping for the best and it turned out that I won it that day”. Thiem also shared a special moment after the game when he was seen lifting the trophy four years earlier with Federer and Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas smiling in the background.
“To be honest, if I had to pick one Masters 1000 to win, it would probably be this one,” he said before turning to Federer. “It’s one of the matches I will remember the longest. It’s also very nice of him. I felt like at the ceremony he was happy for me that I won, which was incredibly sweet and everything was perfect,” he added.
Unfortunately for the Austrian, it won’t be another title in the California desert as he lost his opener to Adrian Mannarino on Thursday. Thiem won the first set 6-4 and led 5-3 in the final set tiebreak, but lost the last four points in a row to lose 4-6 6-4 7-6(5).
