Dominic Thiem Announces Retirement at 31 After Emotional Exit at Vienna Open

Tennis Oct 23, 2024 0 160 Add to Reading List

23rd October 2024
By Chukwu Ziteihe Ikeokwu

Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem says it "hurts" to retire from tennis at the age of 31 but he believes it is the "right decision".

The Austrian's career came to an end with a straight-set defeat by Italy's Luciano Darderi in the first round of the Vienna Open, with Thiem having announced last week that he would retire after his home tournament.

The former world number three, who won the Vienna title in 2019, was beaten 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 by the world number 42.

A ceremony was held in Vienna , including Thiem playing an exhibition set against Alexander Zverev - the player he beat to win the 2020 US Open.

Thiem won 17 titles at ATP Tour level during his career. He was a French Open finalist in 2018 and 2019 and runner-up at the Australian Open in 2020.

He also claimed important wins over all of the 'Big Three' - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

However, less than a year after his New York triumph, Thiem sustained a wrist injury that kept him off the tour for 10 months and resulted in his ranking plummeting to outside the top 350.

Thiem returned to the top 100 last year but has been unable to find his best game and confirmed in May that this season would be his last.