I was so stressed and sick that I had no appetite," Thiem's testimony on his depression after the US Open
Trailing two sets to zero against Zverev in the 2020 US Open final, Thiem ultimately won in five sets (2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6) to claim the first Major of his career. A significant victory for him, but one that later plunged him into a deep depression. Interviewed on the "Business of Sports" podcast, the Austrian opened up about this difficult period.
"I was so stressed and sick that I had no appetite. I couldn't eat anything, only bread and olive oil. I lost weight during the tournament, which is not ideal in a Grand Slam. It was a very tough time.
In the final against Zverev, I was so nervous that I froze. I lost the first two sets easily and thought that this might be my last chance. Then I told myself: 'You're playing like crap, but at least try to hang in there for a few games.' That gave me some freedom, and little by little, I came back.
However, the success on the court came with a private struggle that few people could see. COVID changed everything. Normally, after a Major, you do a lot of shows and interviews. But this time, there were only Zoom calls and quarantine. I had just achieved the biggest goal of my career, but I was sitting alone in a hotel room. The happiness was there, but the emotions were missing."
The former player also spoke about the loneliness athletes can suffer during a season, as well as the relationships that can become difficult with the staff:
"Friendships with other players aren't really deep. In the locker room, we don't really talk about deep things, just jokes and small talk. It's different in football, where you see your teammates every day. In tennis, you see someone for a week and then not again for three weeks. The friendships are light.
As for your team, you're with them up to 45 weeks a year. Sometimes, you just can't stand to see them anymore. It's tough because you're very close to them, but at the same time, it's too much. The constant travel, training, and competitions mean that even moments of camaraderie can quickly become overwhelming.
