Nadal’s conqueror Thiem takes on 22-year-old Next Gen star Alexander Zverev on Friday.
And the Spaniard explained how he struggled to overcome Thiem.
“Yeah, I think he’s playing great. He’s playing with a lot of energy, aggressive, determination. So well done for him,” Nadal added.
“I honestly didn’t play a bad match, no, no. My attitude was great, I think, during the whole match.
“Good, positive, fighting spirit all the time, giving me more chances. That’s what I tried, no?
