The outstanding career of former world number three Dominic Thiem, cut short due to injuries, wrote its last chapter at tour-level on Tuesday at the Austrian home event in Vienna.
The 31-year-old, who received a wild card to compete in the ATP 500 Erste Bank Open, bids farewell after losing in the first round to world No. 42 Luciano Darderi 7-6(6), 6-2 in one hour and 31 minutes.
Following his final match on tour in front of a packed Wiener Stadthalle Arena, Thiem said: “I’ve had so many nice goodbyes in the last few months, but today, I want to thank you for all the sensational years.
“I am only a part of this career. The whole journey has been an absolute dream. I want this afternoon, this evening, to be yours. I couldn’t have imagined it any better. Thank you!”
The four-time Grand Slam finalist battled hard throughout a tight first set, which unfolded into a tiebreaker Darderi took, recovering from an early 0-3 deficit, saving a set point in the process to close out 7-6 in 58 minutes.
The Italian, making his debut at the event, came out firing in the second set, converting his first break in the opening game to never look back.
On a seven-match winning streak, he took control, racing to produce a double break in the fifth game, on his way to seal the set and the match, setting a second-round clash against Briton Jack Draper.
Earlier, Draper, 22, toppled wild card Kei Nishikori 7-6(5), 7-5 in one hour and 37 minutes.
Elsewhere, Australian Alex de Minaur rallied from a set down to prevail over German Jan-Lennard Struff with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 win in under two hours.
De Minaur is on a comeback journey from injury; last week, he made it through the European Open quarterfinals, falling to Frenchman Hugo Gaston in an edgy three-setter.
After his opening round win, the 25-year-old outlined: “At the end of the day, there are no better measurements than results to see your improvement.
“I am very happy with the way my level has improved this year and the types of wins I’m getting. Today was another tough one, so I’m very happy.”
Next, he will face off against Italian Flavio Cobolli, who took down Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina with a 7-6(1), 6-3 triumph to progress to the second round in Vienna.