‘It’s like a sporting death’: Former world number one assesses Dominic Thiem’s ​​mental health issues

The last 10 months for Dominic Thiem have been nothing short of a rollercoaster. During this period, he won the 2020 US Open and reached the final of the ATP Tour Finals, but in 2021 his form dipped due to injuries and mental malaise.

Speaking about mental health issues faced by tennis players, former world number one Mats Wilander addressed the subject.

In a recent interview, Dominic Thiem spoke about his mental health. The Austrian was overwhelmed by tennis and said he fell into a “hole” after his US Open 2020 triumph.

“After that, I was in euphoria. The results were always there, I was in the final of the ATP finals in London. But I fell into a hole preparing for this season.

Comment Following Thiem’s ​​worrying words, Wilander opened up about depression. According to the Swede, the first indicator of depression in a tennis player is the lack of feeling of victory on the tennis court.

“For a tennis player, the ultimate indicator of depression is when you are on the court and you no longer feel the visceral desire to win. When the result no longer really matters, it’s a red flag. It’s like a sporting death.

Dominic Thiem feels a “certain void”

Thiem further explained his mental difficulties by saying that he could not fully enjoy his triumph. He described the feeling as a “void” that also affected his life outside of tennis.

“I pursued the big goal for 15 years without looking left or right. Like I said, I managed it – under strange circumstances, but that’s not that important to me. In a way, certain things were left aside: private life, taking care of other things, broadening one’s horizons.

“You have to do something for your head, for your brain. There was only tennis. I want to change that a little. There is a certain emptiness, but it’s really not a tragedy.

The rigorous nature of the tennis schedule can take a toll on players. Thiem always worked and fought to become a Grand Slam champion. This arduous process could easily have taken a toll on his psyche and deteriorated his mental health. The pandemic further compounded the problem, as players were first confined to their homes and then played for weeks without interruption. Additionally, they were once again confined in biobubbles at every event they attended.

Right now, Thiem is on a to break of the tour and this could prove useful as he could take some time off to recharge his batteries.

‘He’s a little exhausted’: Novak Djokovic opens up about Dominic Thiem’s ​​recent struggle and his withdrawal from the 2021 Serbian Open