Every tennis player dreams of sharing the court with their idol, and for a young Dominic Thiem, that dream came true on the hallowed grass of Wimbledon. Long before he was a Grand Slam champion, Thiem was a wide-eyed junior who received the ultimate tennis baptism: a practice session with the legendary Roger Federer.
Reflecting on those nerve-wracking moments in 2010 and 2011, Thiem recently shared just how overwhelming it felt. "Totally intimidated… The first time I played with Roger I was a junior at Wimbledon and I warmed him up, and my racket was like 100 kilos, I was so nervous!" he exclaimed on the BTA Podcast. This glimpse into the awe-inspiring aura of the sport's giants highlights a universal experience for rising stars.
That early encounter blossomed into a lasting mutual respect, a bond that was evident when Thiem announced his retirement in 2024. In a touching gesture, Federer himself reached out with a personal message, closing a circle that began on those practice courts over a decade prior.
Thiem's journey to feeling like he belonged among the elite was a process. His first official match against a member of the famed "Big Four" came against another hero, Andy Murray, in Rotterdam. "I loved how he played and he was a big role model to me," Thiem recalled. "Just a few years before I watched him on TV and then I am playing against him." He admitted that the sheer aura of Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic was so powerful it felt defeating before a point was even played.
While Federer's influence was profound, Thiem's powerful, aggressive style also drew clear inspiration from another modern great: Stan Wawrinka. The similarities in their devastating one-handed backhands and ability to dominate from the baseline are a testament to the diverse influences that shape a champion's game.
From a nervous junior holding a impossibly heavy racket to a US Open champion receiving a farewell from a legend, Thiem's story is a powerful reminder of tennis's enduring legacy and the profound connections forged across generations on the court.