From the tennis court to Cottaweg: Dominic Thiem visits RBL

From the tennis court to Cottaweg: Dominic Thiem visits RBLDominic Thiem spent a week getting to know RB Leipzig from the inside. The former world number three and 2020 US Open champion visited the club’s training ground at Cottaweg to find out more about how the Red Bulls operate and explore what he could learn from a sport other than his own.“Football has always fascinated me and been something I’m interested in,” explained Thiem. He was particularly keen to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes at a football club and how it compares to the world of tennis. His longstanding connection with Red Bull had helped make the visit to Leipzig possible.Fresh ideas for his own academyDuring his stay at Cottaweg, the Austrian observed training sessions with both the first team and the club’s youth sides. He also spoke to staff working in strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, video analysis, mental performance, nutrition, scouting and youth development.The opportunity to learn more about RBL’s academy was particularly valuable for Thiem. Since retiring from professional tennis, he has been working with young players back home in Austria. His tennis academy currently has 31 children and teenagers, some of whom hope to pursue careers in professional sport.One area of particular interest was how RBL balance young players’ education and personal development with their sporting ambitions. “I’ve learnt an incredible amount,” said Thiem, who took away plenty of ideas for both his academy and his own personal development.Of course, he couldn’t spend a whole week in Leipzig without picking up a tennis racket. Thiem returned to more familiar territory for a session on the court with Maxime Estève and Neil El Aynaoui. His verdict afterwards was suitably light-hearted: “I think the lads are better at tennis than I am at football.”Overcoming setbacks and looking ahead to a new chapterThiem also had plenty of knowledge and experience of his own to share. During a discussion with club staff, the 33-year-old reflected on the highs of his career, the difficult setbacks he had faced and the mental challenges of competing at the highest level.“It’s a very, very long road to the top, and it takes an incredible amount of resilience and perseverance,” said Thiem. Having retired in 2024, he is now looking to put the lessons learnt from more than two decades in professional sport to good use in the next chapter of his life, while staying true to himself.Thiem rounded off his visit with a trip to the Red Bull Arena. Ahead of RBL’s Bundesliga home game against Eintracht Frankfurt, he joined Christoph Baumgartner and Lothar Matthäus on Sky to discuss the similarities between professional football and tennis.He then watched from the stands as the Red Bulls ran out 6-0 winners, bringing an enjoyable and insightful week in Leipzig to a fitting close.Discover moreFixtures Red Bull Arena Men's first team Tickets Fan Zone