From 2017-2020, this was my favorite rivalry on tour. Two aggressive baseliners just crushing the ball. Their ATP Finals 2020, AO2020, and USO2018 matches were some of the highest quality I’ve seen.
@TheKing-wf9es8 ай бұрын
ATP Finals 2020;Thiem vs Nadal best Straighter of all time
@flaviencrozier8 ай бұрын
Not the best of all time but a really good match, I also think of Federer Djokovic ATP Finals 2012 final, impressive straight setter.@@TheKing-wf9es
@TheKing-wf9es8 ай бұрын
@@flaviencrozier You are probably right
@RonnieJamesOsbourne8 ай бұрын
These highlights hurt more than one can enjoy, two-fold. It's sad that we may never see this version of Dominic Thiem ever again, and for the Rafa fans...this just may be his last rodeo.
@unowen75918 ай бұрын
Absolutely insane how Rafa vs. Thiem used to be called "King of clay vs. prince of clay" and now they're meeting in the 1st round of a 250 tournament.
@Andres-qm1xx8 ай бұрын
And Rafa probably dosnt even have level now for 250s
@ForrealIam-is6jj8 ай бұрын
@@Andres-qm1xx Well you should watch today's match then
@Andres-qm1xx8 ай бұрын
@@ForrealIam-is6jj thiem will smash him
@BogdanPW6418 ай бұрын
Well,prince of king can only be Novak
@YouAintGotNoTegridyBoi8 ай бұрын
Thiem in his prime was something else. Perhaps the hardest overall hitter on the court there's ever been. He crushes pretty much every ball so viciously.
@Conitor8 ай бұрын
sinner might be competition to that now but prime thiem was something else
@Johnmili45658 ай бұрын
@@Conitorsinner hits flatter tho, Domis top spin heavy forehands were just too good
@Conitor8 ай бұрын
@@Johnmili4565ye ik but we’re talking abt who hits harder not necessarily who’s ball is harder to get and get a quality shot back
@SJ-di5zu8 ай бұрын
@@Johnmili4565His backhand was so powerful too, he was practically unfazed by high balls even with a one hander. His only disadvantage was the return; he improved it in 2019 and especially 2020 but it still held him back at times.
@iansmirna51838 ай бұрын
"Del Portro entered the chat"
@robinkalousek72478 ай бұрын
Thiem between 2017-2020 was by far the best next gen player with insane peaks. Medvedev, Tsitsipas etc could not hold a candle to him. Just for the reminder he won last 5 out of 7 matches against Djokovic, and beat Fed in 2019 3 times in a row . Now he is finished. He has regressed in every single aspect, return is a disaster, forehand goes long or wide on almost every ocassion and serve is mediocre at best. Pity.
@pureffm8 ай бұрын
He was one generation ahead of them 24-27 in those years whereas Meddy, Tsitsi, Sasha were 3 to 5 years younger. Just like Alcaraz, Rune, Shelton and Sinner are now 3-5 years younger. We will have to see how they play at their peak in 3-5 years.
@juanb1168 ай бұрын
wow. thiem was crushing the ball in rome. great trilogy.
@Walkman00078 ай бұрын
These guys have such a respect for eachother, both hard working, humble and nice guys Both of them deserve to return to greats spots on the ATP tour in 24
@インコ-l8e8 ай бұрын
Even though his peak season was off, his battle with the Big 3 was very intense. It is really surprising that he only got two big titles.
@tomwild53618 ай бұрын
Oh what I would give to see either of these wonderful players back at even half this level!
@nikoladjelic93838 ай бұрын
I remember watching Thiem live, and some changes from baeline are good, and then suddenly Theim's backhand winner goes as fast as blitz. Everyone in crowd got stunned every time he did that.
@TennisFan978 ай бұрын
So excited for their Brisbane match! 🎾
@federicotown80528 ай бұрын
It was such an epic rivalry this one !
@federicotown80528 ай бұрын
Thiem one of the few players who could beat Nadal on clay
@부서-k6k8 ай бұрын
7:51 this power is totally unreal😅
@angelatanurdzic75088 ай бұрын
What a great video! 👍
@cutie.patootie212118 ай бұрын
thiem was honestly the only one with djokovic who could consistently keep up with rafa on clay. whats more he had a one handed backhand.
@NHockerJazz8 ай бұрын
If you’re hitting like this, you’re allowed to grunt 😂
@hide_7278 ай бұрын
I really wanted to see Thiem beat Nadal in the final to win Roland Garros. Their rivalry was beautiful.
@jmilne57518 ай бұрын
Unfortunately, he had NO CHANCE in the final at RG...
@kaizen520715 ай бұрын
In my opinion, if I have to see d best of Nadal on clay, it's against Thiem and that says a lot about Thiem. ❤❤❤
@maciejgudel29398 ай бұрын
😮😮😮😮Full control of the match by Thiem?? Like this 😮😮
@jmilne57518 ай бұрын
Little disappointed they didn't show their last clay match of 2017 where Nadal thrashed Thiem at RG only giving up 7 games plus a last set bagel...
@StokeyNGoon8 ай бұрын
Tennis tv is ATP only, they don’t have rights for grand slams
@maryalexis13638 ай бұрын
Thanks for the video was nice to see Rafa plaing tennis with Thiem - again.
@iansmirna51838 ай бұрын
I must admit I forgot how good Thiem was. Seeing him blasting the one hand BH, I also remember why he had to get surgery.
@Sergio_Gonzales68 ай бұрын
Thiem never had a surgery in his whole career.Please get your facts straight.
@iansmirna51838 ай бұрын
@@Sergio_Gonzales6 Indeed, my mistake. Still I understand he got injured on the wrist.
@Sergio_Gonzales68 ай бұрын
@@iansmirna5183 yep and it has nothing to do with his downfall which lasts almost 2 years now and began way before his injury.Of course in the beginning of his comeback Thiem lacked confidence in his wrist and had worries in the back of his mind not really crushing the balls as he used to do, because of this worries.There was no physical pain or hindrance in any way, just the lack of confidence in his wrist.This situation lasted for about 2 months. I heard many interviews an press conferences from him in german and english where he described his true problems, lack of confidence and motivation in training and competition, which lasted almost 1,5 years like he stated.It is really hard to get this time back he lost and surpasses his wrist injury by far.It is ridiculous that people still take his wrist as a reason for his performances the last almost 2 years.Ok they just don't know better.But I can assure you and all the others who just watch his matches, that his wrist is a 100% ok and not causing any problems since April 2022!
@clauwasaki45488 ай бұрын
I'll stream the match in my twitch 👍
@domagojhrgovic74198 ай бұрын
Thiem used to be so good.
@maryalexis13638 ай бұрын
I love rhiem but my biggest love is Rafa Nadal ❤️ well come back Rafa we're so happy to see you playing tennis again good lack.❤
@colinmcmullin11548 ай бұрын
Looking forward to Brisbane!
@iamkumarmihir8 ай бұрын
Rafa Forehand 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@monufretin39948 ай бұрын
What a song at 9:00 ?
@BasiviReddyVanga8 ай бұрын
This was the time when djokovic used to be not in top2 clay court players in the world. Then injuries hit Thiem. And never was same player again
@roter138 ай бұрын
These two (especially Thiem) are nowhere the same players as in these highlights
@agradina8 ай бұрын
nadal the strongest player ever.king of clay .
@ogburichardndubisi34125 ай бұрын
If not for thiem injury rafa and novak wouldn't have gotten to 22 and 24 slams
@masters.10008 ай бұрын
Thiem was clearly the best from the weak era (gen 1990-nowadays).
@SJ-di5zu8 ай бұрын
I don’t think you can include Alcaraz’s generation in that group. The jury is still out on Rune and Sinner, but Alcaraz has 2 slams and 5 Masters, which is already a HOF career, and he’s only 20.
@masters.10008 ай бұрын
@@SJ-di5zu Alcaraz is an exemption from the rest, but then again he won it in a cakewalk field. Beating a 36yo Đoković should be mandatory for him and anyone young enough who wants to transcend. Let's see what it becomes from Rune and Sinner.
@domagojhrgovic74198 ай бұрын
@@masters.1000 Đoković at 36 is at his best level ever, he said it himself.
@mattjagar63248 ай бұрын
@@domagojhrgovic7419clearly u haven’t watched his last levels
@masters.10008 ай бұрын
@@domagojhrgovic7419 ¿At his BEST? My god, have you watched anything before or just started this year. Of course he will say that, or do you expect him to say "I'm so lucky that Federer was 6 years older and retired, Nadal is injured and no one good enough appeared in the last 15 years"
@tfulookingat5516 күн бұрын
so satisfying to see Nadal lose!
@tshavfengvang78318 ай бұрын
Nobody beats Nadal in clay.
@AlejandroPikoulasPlata8 ай бұрын
Where are the dropshots??Nadal plays so far from the baseline. Thiem isn't a complete player, he won the US Open only because there was Zverev on the other side of the net.