Dominic Thiem reflects on achieving positive head-to-head record against Roger Federer, reveals thoughts ahead of their Indian Wells 2019 final

Among the few players who can boast of a positive head-to-head record against Roger Federer is Dominic Thiem. The Austrian recently expressed his happiness at the achievement, while also revealing his desperation to win the 2019 Indian Wells final against Federer as they were tied at two wins apiece back then.

Thiem and Federer faced each other seven times on tour, with their first meeting coming in Brisbane in January 2016. While the Swiss great won that match comfortably, Thiem ended up with a 5-2 win-loss record against the 20-time Grand Slam champion after they last played in the 2019 ATP Finals.

As Thiem prepared for his 2023 Indian Wells campaign, he looked back on a very important match in his rivalry with Federer - the finals of the very tournament in California back in 2019. Thiem reflected on his eagerness to beat Federer in that match, which he eventually won 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, as he felt it could have been the last time he faced the Swiss great.

"It feels very good, you know," Dominic Thiem said on his positive record against Federer.

"I remember I was at 2-all, then it was at the finals here in Indian Wells, I said that maybe it's going to be the last time where I'm going to play him and it's finals at Indian Wells. So, man, I have to win, because maybe I could forever have a positive head-to-head against Roger."

Indian Wells 2019 did not end up being the last time they faced each other. The duo played on two more occasions and Thiem won both those matches, at the Madrid Masters and ATP Finals, both later in 2019.

"I won and then it was 3-2 and then we played two more matches. So yeah, I'm ending up 5-2, and its pretty nice," Thiem concluded with a smile.

Thiem recently looked back at the Indian Wells match in depth, explaining how Federer was "toying" with him in the early stages of the match before the Austrian mounted a comeback.

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Dominic Thiem suffers first-round loss at Indian Wells 2023

Dominic Thiem in action at Indian Wells 2023.

Dominic Thiem's terrible start to the 2023 season suffered another big blow as the 2019 champion lost in the opening round of Indian Wells to Frenchman Adrian Mannarino on Friday. Thiem, who was granted a main-draw wilcard to compete at Indian Wells this year, was in complete control of the match at 6-4, 4-2, before losing 6-4, 4-6, 6-7(5) in a deciding set tiebreak.

The Indian Wells loss is Thiem's ninth loss in 10 matches this season, and he has made it past the opening round in only one of six tournaments. The World No. 102 could fall further below the Top-100 of the ATP rankings by the end of Indian Wells and going into Miami. Thiem has received a wildcard for the Miami Open as well, which begins on March 20.