Former world number three Dominic Thiem contested his last match on tour at his home ATP 500 tournament, the Erste Bank Open, falling in the first round to Italian Luciano Darderi in straight sets on Tuesday evening.
The Austrian reflected on his journey, sharing his thoughts in an Instagram post on Wednesday.
“An unforgettable evening that closes the chapter of my tennis career.
“A huge thank you to all my fans for your support over the years - playing in front of you one last time was simply breathtaking!
“Even though it was the right decision, I will miss this moment and the incredible atmosphere.”
“It’s been an amazing journey, full of ups and downs, and I am grateful for every experience!
“A special thank you to my family, coaches, friends, and partners! And, of course, to you, tennis, for giving me more than I ever dreamed of.”
The 2020 US Open champion wrote the last chapter of a remarkable journey that went beyond his accomplishments on the court.
The 31-year-old leaves a legacy trademarked by his sportsmanship, humble personality, and relentless fighting spirit, which earned him the respect and admiration of his peers and fans worldwide.
World No. 3 Alexander Zverev, who on Monday joined him at his official retirement ceremony, also took to social media to pay tribute to the Austrian player, writing: “Everyone’s tennis career will, unfortunately, come to an end sooner or later. But the people you meet and the friendships you build will hopefully last a lifetime.”
“Thank you,@domithiem, for the toughest battles I’ve ever had on court. Thank you for the most unforgettable moments we were able to share outside the court.”
“Thank you for showing that a true friendship is possible even while being one of the biggest rivals,” he added.
“This isn’t a goodbye. This is a see you soon, my friend.”
Competing in an era dominated by Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic, the talented player who grew up in a small village in Austria, found his place in the spotlight, becoming one of only two players with at least five wins against each of the “Big 3.”
Sharing his admiration for the Indian Wells winner, 20-time major champion Federer, expressed through social media: “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.”
Throughout an impressive career, Thiem captured 17 ATP titles, including his first and lone major, the US Open, where he defeated Zverev in a thriller championship match, becoming the last player with a one-handed backhand to win a Grand Slam singles title.
With 348 victories under his belt, his skillsets felt at home when playing on the red clay surface, finishing a two-time Roland-Garros runner-up against the “King of Clay.”
In addition, he made it through the prestigious ATP Finals twice, damaging his opponents with his exquisite backhand down-the-line shot.
The Rise of a Champion
Thiem broke into the top 10 for the first time in June 2016, winning four titles that season to become a seventh-time ATP winner.
In 2019, he was at the peak of his career, lifting five trophies that season.
The following year, Thiem delivered world-class tennis to start his run on a high note, making history by becoming the first Austrian player to reach the Australian Open finals.
He rallied across four sets with great tenacity to upset Nadal in the quarterfinals, eventually losing to defending champion Djokovic in a monumental five-setter at Melbourne Park.
He reached a new career-high world No. 3 in March 2020, and as such, he emerged victorious in New York on the world’s largest tennis stage, the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Thiem remained ranked in the Top 10 from June 2016 until November 2021, when he began to struggle mentally and physically, taking a break from tennis - he did not play a single match for a month.
A series of early exits in tournaments where he had delivered some of his best performances in the past took a toll on the player, who decided to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics.
After falling at the Madrid Open last four, he commented: “Like all the shots are missing power. They are not accurate enough. I am not moving well enough; there are some percents missing.”
Then, a recurring knee injury forced him to withdraw from the Monte-Carlo Masters and other venues before experiencing a first-round upset at the French Open.
A Defining Career Moment
He would return to tour-level competition at the Mallorca Championships, an event contested on the grass courts, giving Frenchman Adrian Mannarino a walkover after sustaining a “detachment of posterior sheath of the right ulnar wrist” while hitting a forehand long during the first set of their march.
The right wrist injury would mark a before and after in his career, eventually cutting short his journey.
As a result, his 2021 season came to an early end, setting off a period of setbacks during an arduous recovery process into 2022.
At the time, an official statement asserted that Thiem would have “to wear a wrist splint for five weeks before beginning a progressive process of specific functional rehabilitation to regain mobility as well as muscle strength in his wrist and ultimately return to training on court.”
The Andalucia Open, an ATP Challenger contested in Marbella in May 2022, marked his comeback to action, losing in the first round to Spaniard Pedro Cachin.
However, all the work made alongside his team would start paying dividends in July, when he achieved back-to-back quarterfinals at the Swiss Open.
Furthermore, on home soil and after three consecutive weeks of good results, he made it into the quarterfinals at the Generali Open in Kitzbuhel, losing to compatriot Filip Misolic.
Nearly a month later, he achieved a new goal, clinching his first hard-court win in 18 months at Winston-Salem.
Due to the lingering wrist injury, he needed to adjust his game, and regaining confidence in his shots became key in that process.
There were moments of brilliance, but his wrist was never the same; moreover, the tennis that made him one of the best tennis players in the world was no longer the same.
Determination took over instead, so he kept fighting against the odds.
Last year, he found momentum, progressing to three quarterfinals, Estoril Munich and Astana.
His best week that season came again on home soil in Kitzbuhel, where he displayed a fearless performance to advance to his first championship match in almost three years, his first since the Nitto ATP Finals in 2020.
The memorable semifinal clash was also the longest best-of-three-set match of his career.
Thiem left nothing on the table, pushing the limits to overcome World No. 38 Laslo Djere after a three-hour, 30-minute contest.
He showcased impressive resilience throughout his campaign at the venue, recovering from a set down in three of the fourth matches he played en route to the final.
Finishing runner-up to Argentine Sebastian Baez, helped him break back into the top 100, ranked No. 84.
The curtains closed, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations of tennis players to believe in their dreams and work hard to achieve them.