How Rafael Nadal HELPED Dominic Thiem beat Roger Federer - Catherine Whitaker
DOMINIC THIEM was helped by his US Open loss to Rafael Nadal in his victory over Roger Federer at Indian Wells on Sunday, claims tennis broadcaster Catherine Whitaker.
Indian Wells: Federer congratulates Thiem after defeat
Dominic Thiem beat Roger Federer in three sets at Indian Wells to win his first Masters 1000 title.
After losing the first set 6-3 the Austrian came back to stun the Swiss legend.
Thiem had been pigeon-holed as a clay court expert by some but Whitaker believes the clash against Nadal at the US Open last year was a breakthrough for the 25-year-old.
Nadal won the quarter-final in five sets but Whitaker says without that experience, Thiem would not have beaten Federer at Indian Wells.
I do think that match against Nadal at the US Open paved the way for this
“I do think that match against Nadal at the US Open paved the way for this,” she said on The Tennis Podcast.
“I know he lost it but it was such an enormous breakthrough for him on this surface.
“I really think that without what happened that day, we might not have seen what happened against Federer in the final.”
Whitaker says Thiem is learning to adapt to the hard court surface.
But she admits Indian Wells was the best place for him to do just that.
“He seems to be learning how to use and adapt his game, particularly on this surface,” she continued.
“And look, Indian Wells is a particularly well suited place to do that because he says really it plays like a clay court.
“The only thing that’s particularly different about is that he can’t slide.
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“But in terms of the speed of the ball off the court and the bounciness of the court, it’s very much like a clay court.
“So if he was going to make a hard court breakthrough anywhere, this was going to be the place.”
Both Thiem and Federer return to action this week at the Miami Open.
Rafael Nadal is sidelined with the knee injury that forced him to withdraw before his semi-final against Federer at Indian Wells last Saturday.