Dominic Thiem Spends a Day at Sunrise Tennis Club
Jan 07, 2026
Dominic Thiem stopped by a boyhood club of his, Sunrise Tennis Club, and he spent real time there. In Sunrise, Florida, the Grand Slam champion and former world No. 3 sat down with junior players for an open Q&A before heading courtside with DJ Mad Linx for an exclusive Florida Tennis conversation. The visit blended past and present, learning and reflection. For the junior players at Sunrise Tennis Club, it was definitely a moment that stuck with them.
Dominic Thiem Q&A with Junior Players
“First of all, I think you all have to enjoy this time, because it’s super nice, and the experience to, to be a tennis player in this age is just amazing.” Thiem’s message to the Sunrise juniors was simple and honest from the start. Standing on the same grounds where so many young players train daily, he talked about how easy it is to lose sight of how special the junior years really are. “Just enjoy all the experiences,” he added, pointing to travel, tournaments, friendships, and memories that last long after rankings stop mattering.
That perspective carried into one of the toughest realities of tennis: losing. “After some weeks or some months, you start to appreciate how well you played in those losses and what you could improve after the losses.” A very important lesson that players should understand is how to process setbacks, something every competitor faces no matter the level.
As questions turned toward training habits and match nerves, Thiem made it clear that what happens at clubs like Sunrise adds up over time. “You will always feel nervous,” he said, whether you’re 14 or playing a Grand Slam at 30. “That’s super important to really give it your best in every training session, in every practice match, and in every junior tournament.” The habits formed on these courts, he explained, are the same ones players rely on later — the pressure just gets louder.
Coachability came next, and Thiem didn’t sugarcoat it. “It’s crucial, but it’s not easy all the time from a perspective of a player,” he said. When tennis becomes your entire world, tunnel vision sets in. “Sometimes you think you’re smarter than your coach,” he admitted, before offering advice he wished he’d followed sooner: “They have a different point of view.” It was the kind of lesson that hits home in a setting like Sunrise, where daily interaction between players and coaches is part of the culture.
Dominic Thiem Q&A Video
Dominic Thiem Exclusive Interview
Later, sitting down with DJ Mad Linx, Thiem reflected on his time since retiring from professional tennis. “I’m here for the first time in Florida as a retired player and not going from the airport straight to practice,” he said. “It’s super nice.” For the first time, he was able to be present watching, talking, and remembering instead of racing to the next session.
Sunrise, for Thiem, isn’t just another club on the map. “I came here for the first time when I was 11 or twelve, so I have a lot of history here,” he said. He recalled training on both clay and hard courts, preparing for the Junior Orange Bowl year after year, and later using Sunrise as a base before the Miami Open. “One year I did the season preparation for 2019, for the 2020 season here,” he added, calling it “amazing” preparation that led directly into an Australian Open final.
That long-term relationship is exactly what Sunrise Tennis Club prides itself on — being a place players come back to, not just pass through. “It always brings back great memories,” Thiem said, reflecting on the tough sessions that didn’t always feel great in the moment but mattered later. It’s the kind of environment juniors experience every day: demanding, supportive, and rooted in real development.
When the conversation shifted to what it takes to raise a tennis player, Thiem didn’t dodge the reality. “It’s very expensive to raise kids to be a professional tennis player,” he said. But he emphasized something Sunrise players and families live firsthand: the value isn’t only in trophies. “The experience you create and everything you learn on this way… it’s unbelievable for the rest of your life.” Even for those who don’t reach the top, those lessons last.
By the end of the visit, the message was clear without being forced. Sunrise Tennis Club isn’t just a training ground; it’s a place where tennis lives across generations. Thiem summed it up best, reflecting on his career and his return: “I was just coming here enjoying my time.” For the juniors who spent the day listening, asking questions, and sharing the court with him, it was more than just another practice; it was the kind of experience Sunrise is built to deliver.
Exclusive Interview
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Written by Florida Tennis Assistant Editor Alex Binstok. Top photo credit: © Rolex/Getty Images Al Bello
