Thiem Reflects on Sharing Court with Federer at Wimbledon

The Austrian tennis star recalls his early days practicing with the Swiss legend as a junior.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:06pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movement and energy of a tennis match, with sharp planes of color and overlapping perspectives conveying the mental challenge of facing an established champion.A cubist interpretation of a pivotal moment between rising star Dominic Thiem and tennis legend Roger Federer, capturing the intensity and mental fortitude required to compete at the sport's highest echelons.Indian Wells Today

Dominic Thiem, the 2020 US Open champion, recently shared his memories of practicing with Roger Federer for the first time as a junior at Wimbledon in 2010 and 2011. Thiem described feeling incredibly nervous and intimidated being on the court with the tennis great, but said he slowly gained confidence facing the 'Big Four' players over time. Despite his initial nerves, Thiem ended up with a winning record against Federer, though struggled more against Rafael Nadal.

Why it matters

Thiem's recollections provide a rare glimpse into the experience of a rising young player sharing the court with established legends of the sport. His journey illustrates the mental hurdles players must overcome to compete at the highest level against the sport's most dominant figures.

The details

As a junior at Wimbledon in 2010 and 2011, Thiem had the opportunity to practice with Federer for the first time. Thiem described feeling incredibly nervous, saying his 'racket was like 100 kilos' and that he 'was so nervous!' Thiem's first match against one of the 'Big Four' was against Andy Murray in Rotterdam, where he felt 'totally intimidated.' Over time, Thiem gained more confidence facing these top players, though he admitted it took several matches before he felt like he belonged at that level. Ultimately, Thiem finished his career with a 5-2 record against Federer, though struggled more against Nadal, losing 10 of their 16 meetings.

  • In 2010 and 2011, Thiem was a junior at Wimbledon.
  • Thiem's first match against one of the 'Big Four' was against Andy Murray in Rotterdam.
  • Thiem defeated Federer in the 2019 Indian Wells final.

The players

Dominic Thiem

An Austrian tennis player who won the 2020 US Open and finished his career with a 5-2 record against Roger Federer.

Roger Federer

A Swiss tennis legend and one of the 'Big Four' players that Thiem faced during his career.

Andy Murray

A British tennis player and one of the 'Big Four' that Thiem faced early in his career.

Stan Wawrinka

A Swiss tennis player who Thiem has cited as a major influence on his own powerful backhand game.

Rafael Nadal

A Spanish tennis player and one of the 'Big Four' that Thiem struggled against, losing 10 of their 16 meetings.

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What they’re saying

“Totally intimidated...The first time I played with Roger I was a junior at Wimbledon and I warmed him up, and my racket was like 100 kilos, I was so nervous!”

— Dominic Thiem, Tennis Player

“100% yeah, it was crazy. The big three they had such a big aura it was crazy, when you stand next to them before you walk on court, it felt like they've already beat me.”

— Dominic Thiem, Tennis Player

“I already knew that I belonged to this level back then, I was 25. Still it was a big chance, I really wanted that title and the first set I remember he was really toying with me, he was playing at his highest level. But still, believing in it and somehow I turned it around. Back then, I already had the belief that I could beat anybody on any day, so that was also the mindset into that match.”

— Dominic Thiem, Tennis Player

The takeaway

Thiem's reflections on his early experiences practicing and competing against tennis legends like Federer and Nadal illustrate the immense mental challenge young players face in breaking through at the highest levels of the sport. Despite his initial nerves, Thiem was eventually able to develop the confidence and belief to defeat even the greatest players, demonstrating the importance of perseverance and self-belief in professional tennis.