Dominic Thiem Confirms Retirement At End Of Year
Rumors had been swirling and yesterday Dominic Thiem put those to rest confirm that he would retire at the end of the year due to his right wrist.
Thiem made the announcement on Instagram.
“I have to tell you a very important, a very sad, but very beautiful message that the season 2024 is going to be my last one. I am going to finish my career with the end of the season. There are some reasons behind it, of course. First is my wrist. It’s not exactly the way it should be. The second reason is my inner feeling. I was thinking about this decision for a very long time. I was thinking very carefully about it. I was thinking about the whole journey as a tennis player which was incredible.
“I have had success, I have won trophies I never dreamt of. The journey was incredible, all the ups and downs. It was an incredible experience which I was so thankful for and in the end I came to the conclusion that this decision to end my career by the end of the season is the only right one. I am very happy with it and I am super excited for everything that is coming next. For a lot more information and all the talks with my family and all the talks about my career and my past, check out my vlog which is coming out tomorrow.”
The 30-year-old Thiem will go down as a Grand Slam champion winning a wild US Open COVID bubble final from two sets down over Alexander Zverev in 2020.
He also made two French Open finals and an Australian Open final reaching a career-high No. 3 in 2020. He has 17 career titles in 29 finals.
But his violent ball-striking caught up to him in June 2021 when he tore his right wrist.
The Austrian was never the same after.
Novak Djokovic spoke about Thiem earlier this week in Rome.
“A great guy, very good person, someone that has very good manners, good values, family man, somebody that always took time to say hello, always showed respect on the court, off the court,” Djokovic said.
“I really like Dominic. I think he’s a great example of somebody who never gives up after the difficult time he had and still has with injuries, trying to work his way back to the level where he was when he was winning Grand Slams and being in top of the world.
“Of course, we all understand how difficult it is to come back. I mean, I was having an injury myself back in 2018, a major injury of the elbow, trying to work my way back. I know that kind of a feeling. Fortunately for me, I didn’t stay in that kind of feeling for too long. I managed come back and find the desired level maybe six or seven months after that.
“For him, it’s been a struggle to build rankings and find the level of tennis for quite a few years. I definitely empathize with him and I wish him all the best.”
Thiem said his final event will be in Vienna where he won his first match in 2011.
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