Dominic Thiem is one of tennis’ most likeable characters, but he has now emerged with a rather controversial opinion.
Having retired just last year, his relationship with tennis has been somewhat severed over the last 12 months or so.
However, he is still remembered fondly as a great competitor and an affable individual who enjoyed a phenomenal career capped off by winning the US Open in 2020.
His career lasted for 13 years, and he played on every stage imaginable.
That makes him perfectly placed to weigh in on what needs to change within the sport, with Dominic Thiem already proposing the steady dissolution of one area.
Dominic Thiem thinks post-match press conferences should be removed
Speaking on the Business of Sport podcast, he was asked about his thoughts on players being carted into media rooms immediately after matches.
Whether it be a win or a loss, if you have been requested, you have to go. Otherwise, face an extraordinary fine.
Touching on this strange rule, Thiem admitted: “I think it’s too much because you basically have to answer the same questions. If you play 35 tournaments a year, it’s 35 times of the same question.
“It’s too much. They should reduce it a bit. If you have won or lost, if it’s a big surprise, of course, you have to do it, but I don’t know. If you are number one in the world and you won your second round match 6-2, 6-1, and you have to answer the same questions again for 30 minutes. I think it’s too much.
“It’s a little bit quality above quantity which is not happening at the moment, I would say.
“In football, sometimes the players are with the coach on the press conference, you choose the players, but they don’t have to be there every single time.”
How good actually was Dominic Thiem?
To perfectly sum up just how good this Austrian sensation was, one need only look at his record against Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
Thiem has the best win rate of all time against the Big Three, better than Andy Murray, Alexander Zverev, Stan Wawrinka… the best.
It is for this reason, as well as his cruel injury record, that made him such a well-respected and revered member of the ATP tour, lauded by fans and players alike.
As touched upon earlier, this culminated in his crowning achievement in New York. However, he also reached another three Grand Slam finals, and even won the title in Indian Wells too.
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Thiem competed during inarguably the toughest era in tennis history, and he competed well.
His iconic one-handed backhand and brutal forehand made him a joy to watch when fit enough to truly compete.