Thiem Bids Emotional Farewell To Pro Tennis

Dominic Thiem
Dominic Thiem (photo: e|motion/Bildagentur Zolles KG/Christian Hofer)

VIENNA/WASHINGTON, October 23, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

Dominic Thiem played 563 matches on the ATP Tour during his illustrious career. For many of them, he will be remembered for his stylish trademark — a one-fisted backhand — that was full of flair. It scored the Austrian right-hander a lot of winners and added up to plenty of victories, too. Thiem’s powerful, torque-driven forehand stroke — filled with an enormous top spin — was one of the best in the game, and together with his backhand, provided Thiem with a potent 1-2 punch.

However, with it all came the risk of injury and, ultimately, it’s a wrist injury that forced Thiem to hang up his tennis racquet at this time and end his career prematurely. Looking back, one could suggest, as writer Neil Edward Schlecht did in a recent article chronicling Thiem for the ATP Tour website, the Austrian’s career was one of  “greatness interrupted.”

The 31-year-old Thiem, currently ranked No. 318 after rising to World No. 3 just four years ago, announced his retirement after Vienna, in an emotional video he posted on Instagram earlier this year.

“My wrist is not at the way it should be and how I want it. I was thinking about this decision for a very long time,” Thiem expressed back in May.

After suffering a debilitating right wrist injury following his 2020 US Open triumph, Thiem was unable to defend his title in 2021 and missed many months afterward. When he finally returned, with his ranking plummeted due to inactivity, Thiem was never quite the same. But it wasn’t for a lack of determination or courage on the tennis court, where he was always gracious in victory or defeat, or off it, where he always expressed himself thoughtfully in interviews with the media.

Thiem, a native of Wiener Neustadt, who turned professional in 2011, finished his 13-year pro career with 348 tour-level wins and captured 17 ATP Tour titles. The former World No. 3 became the first Austrian to win a hard-court Grand slam crown when he garnered the 2020 US Open title. He also reached the finals in three other majors.

Closer to home, Thiem won titles in Kitzbühel and Vienna, both in 2019. He played in his first ATP Tour qualifying draw in Vienna in 2010, then recorded his first ATP Tour win in 2011 by defeating compatriot Thomas Muster. His 348 wins ranks him third among Austrian men in the Open Era behind Muster (625) and Jürgen Melzer (350).

Besides his US Open crown, Thiem’s 17 career ATP Tour titles include: one Masters 1000, at Indian Wells in 2019; and five ATP 500 titles, at Acapulco (2016), Rio de Janeiro (2017), Barcelona (2019), Beijing (2019), and Vienna (2019).

Also, Thiem scored 32 Top-10 wins, including triumphs over No. 1 Andy Murray (in 2017 at Barcelona); No. 1 Rafael Nadal (in 2018 Madrid and in 2020 at the Australian Open); and No. 1 Novak Djokovic (in 2019 at Roland-Garros and in 2020 at the Nitto ATP Finals).

However, Vienna has always held a special place in Thiem’s heart, filled with unforgettable moments. So, it came as no surprise that it’s where he would say goodbye — win or lose. It’s at the Erste Bank Open where Thiem won his first tour-level match as a teenager and later won the tournament in 2019 in front of his home fans.

On Tuesday evening, in front of a capacity crowd of 9,500 fans that filled Center Court inside Wiener Stadthalle, Thiem fell in his final match, 7-6 (6), 6-2, to No. 42 Luciano Darderi, a 22-year-old up-and-coming star from Italy. It lasted only 91 minutes but Thiem’s last time on court will be remembered forever. His final tour-level win-loss record stands at 348-215.

During a brief goodbye ceremony, Thiem placed one of tennis racquets from his final match into a display case that was brought out on Center Court. It will be part of an exhibition, “The Official Tennis Experience,” located in Hall F of Wiener Stadthalle.

Then, in an emotional speech, Thiem thanked everyone for their support. “I’ve had so many nice goodbyes in the last few months, but today I want to say thank you for all the sensational years,” he said (translated from German). “I am only a part of this career. The while journey has been an absolute dream and I want this afternoon, this evening to be yours. I couldn’t have imagined it any better. Thank you!”

Thiem also made a plea to his legion of fans: “Tennis has had a huge upswing in Austria in recent years. Please keep it up. That’s my request to you. That this wonderful sport remains so present in the future. That’s my request to you!”

Following Thiem’s loss, both Nadal and Roger Federer took to social media to congratulate the Austrian star on his retirement.

In an Instagram story, Federer wrote of Thiem: “An illustrious career comes to a close. Congratulations Domi.”

Federer, who lost the 2019 Indian Wells final to Thiem and was 2-5 lifetime against him, added: “No matter the surface, you always found a way to beat me with your thunderous backhands. But more importantly, you did it with grace and sportsmanship.”

Nadal, who was 10-6 against Thiem, also posted an Instagram story, writing simply “Danke Domi.”

Indeed, “Danke, Domi.” It’s a sentiment so many in the tennis world are feeling.

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