US Open champion Dominic Thiem admitted Monday that he faces a stiff challenge to keep tennis high up in the public consciousness once Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic call it quits.
Thiem, 27, captured his first Slam title in New York with a five-set win over Alexander Zverev earlier this month, the first Major final in six years not to feature at least one of the ‘Big Three’.
However, US broadcaster ESPN said that ratings for that championship match were down 48%. Both Federer and Nadal opted not to play the US Open while Djokovic was disqualified in the last 16.
“I think it’s normal, because Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, they are like global superstars, and we are not yet,” said Thiem after reaching the second round of Roland Garros with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 win over Croatia’s Marin Cilic, who was celebrating his 32nd birthday on Monday.
“I guess we have…