MELBOURNE: Dominic Thiem finished second-best for the third time in a Grand Slam final on Sunday, but the 26-year-old Austrian will leave Melbourne Park confident that he is not too far away from becoming a major winner.
"I think there's not much to change," Thiem said. "Also in the last two sets, I definitely gave everything I had. Well, Novak is part of three guys who are by far the best players to have ever played tennis.
"If you play a Grand Slam finals against him, it's always going to be a match where very small details are deciding.
"Of course, there were some small mistakes here and there, but they happen. In the end, (it) was a super close five-setter. I don't really regret anything."
The packed Rod Laver Arena crowd, who were left gasping during the Serb's flawless display in the opening set, got behind the Austrian challenger in the hope of inspiring him to give them a proper contest.
Thiem did not disappoint. "I'm happy I can compete with these guys on the best level," said Thiem, who in the quarter-finals had beaten Nadal in a Grand Slam for the first time after five previous failed attempts.
"I really hope also that I win my maiden Slam when they're still around because it just counts more, yeah." Agencies