Austria’s Dominic Thiem Ends Career Amid Cheers from Home Crowd at Vienna Open

Austria’s Dominic Thiem Ends Career Amid Cheers from Home Crowd at Vienna Open

Vienna (AFP) – Dominic Thiem, Austria’s Grand Slam champion and former US Open winner, concluded his tennis career on Tuesday with a 6-7 (6-8), 2-6 loss to Luciano Darderi at the Vienna Open. Playing in front of a home crowd, Thiem’s final match marked the end of a long battle with a wrist injury that had plagued him since 2021.

 

The 31-year-old Austrian, who had announced his retirement earlier this year, was warmly celebrated by nearly 10,000 fans after his last match. Despite a closely contested first set, Thiem was overpowered by Darderi, a 22-year-old Italian ranked 42nd in the world, who comfortably took the second set 6-2.

 

Addressing the cheering crowd, Thiem expressed his gratitude: “I would really like to thank you for all the sensational years, because of course I am only a part of this all, the whole career. A huge thank you to everyone for their support over the years. The whole journey was an absolute dream.”

 

Thiem, who turned professional in 2011, reached the pinnacle of his career in 2020, winning the US Open by defeating Alexander Zverev in an empty stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions. At that time, he seemed set to challenge tennis giants like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal. However, his career was derailed in 2021 after suffering severe ligament damage while competing in Mallorca, forcing him to withdraw from the rest of the season.

 

Since then, Thiem’s performance steadily declined, and by 2022, his world ranking had dropped outside the top 100 for the first time in over a decade. Despite being ranked 318th going into his final tournament, he received a wildcard entry to the ATP 500 event in Vienna. In 2023, he managed just two main draw victories.

 

Over the course of his career, Thiem won 17 titles and earned more than $30 million in prize money. His farewell was marked by tributes from fellow tennis stars, including Zverev, with whom Thiem shared a friendly match over the weekend. A farewell party at Vienna’s Stadthalle also featured video messages from Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer, all commending Thiem for his camaraderie and positive energy.

 

Thiem’s retirement marks the end of a significant chapter in Austrian and global tennis, closing with a heartfelt farewell from fans and fellow pl

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ayers alike.