Rafael Nadal ‘the best role model’ for Dominic Thiem, who also says Carlos Alcaraz has set a new standard

Dominic Thiem says he has been impressed by Rafael Nadal to beat adversity as he makes an attempt to get again to the highest of males’s tennis.

The 2020 US Open winner suffered a wrist harm on the Mallorca Open in June final 12 months that stored him off the courtroom for 9 months.

The Austrian, who has gone as excessive as No. 3 on this planet rankings, is taking part in within the Gijon Open this week and beat Portugal’s Joao Sousa 6-2 6-0 to achieve the second spherical.

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Thiem says 21-time Grand Slam winner Nadal is his “position mannequin” for coming back from lengthy accidents to the head of the game.

“He is most likely the very best position mannequin for this expertise,” he instructed AS.

“He did it not simply as soon as however 4 or 5 instances to come back again from an extended harm time of six months or much more. And the shape was all the time superb. So it is an awesome inspiration.”

Thiem is at the moment ranked 165 on this planet, however believes he has what it takes to win a Grand Slam once more in his profession.

He stated: “I’ve the idea that I can win a Grand Slam once more. If not, I might quit my profession.

“I went by dangerous instances however I might have the sensation that I get nearer to my greatest model.”

Carlos Alcaraz is the present US Open champion and world No.1. Thiem says everybody has to “catch up” with the 19-year-old’s model of play.

“He already has a novel profession,” he added.

“He’s the youngest No. 1 in historical past and the winner of the US Open as a teen, distinctive.

“He’s about to vary tennis, as a result of in New York, regardless of how lengthy the matches lasted, all the pieces was there. Time, taking part in offense, going to the online and taking part in each level with out worry.

“I believe that is new. No person did that earlier than. We have now to catch up.”

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