Dominic Thiem describes Andy Murray as 'a role model' after Scot's encouragement in Madrid
- Michael Graham
- 3 May 2022
The two former Grand Slam winners met in Madrid, with Andy Murray taking the spoils.
Dominic Thiem described Andy Murray as 'a role model' after the Scot offered him some words of encouragement at the Madrid Masters.
Thiem is currently returning from a wrist injury that kept him out of tennis for almost a year.
Due to the injury he will now slip outside of the world's top 100 after Murray beat him 6-3, 6-4 at La Caja Mágica.
After the match, the pair talked at the net with Murray telling Thiem: "Keep going. It takes time but you'll be fine."
Despite the disappointment of the result, the words were clearly appreciated by Thiem.
"It was very nice, his words at the net, and it is worth even more from someone like him who really went through that recovery process," Thiem said.
"He is one of the few who knows how tough it is to come back after a major injury and obviously he is a role model with how he came back with his hip injury."
Murray is no stranger to recovering from injury himself, of course, and he made sure he had some words of encouragement for Thiem after the contest.
"Keep going. It takes time but you'll be fine"
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 2, 2022
A sentiment we can all agree with ❤@andy_murray @domithiem #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/vr2QYTlexe
"It's not easy coming back from such a long time [away]," Murray said when asked about Thiem.
"I hope that it's just sort of a mental thing that he will get through with more matches and that it's not still something that is causing him pain or discomfort.
"At times he hit it well, but there were certainly specific shots that usually he would make.
"He is still serving well, has a fantastic kick serve and was hitting his backhand very well. He's an excellent mover."
