Dominic Thiem, the Austrian who won the 2020 US Open and reached three other Grand Slam singles finals, plans to retire from tennis after this season.
“There are several reasons for that.” Thiem said in a video posted to his social media.. “First of all, of course, the wrist. It’s not what it should be. It’s not how I want it to be. The second reason is my inner feelings. I thought about this decision for a long time. ”
Thiem, 30, has one win and seven losses in Grand Slam main draw matches since injuring his right wrist in June 2021, and is currently ranked 117th in the world.
The highlight of his career was the 2020 US Open. He is the first male singles player born in the 1990s to win a sumo tournament, and only the second Austrian after Roland Garros champion Thomas Muster in 1995.
Thiem defeated Germany’s Alexander Zverev 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (6) in the final, which was held behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, and defeated Novak Djokovic. He became the first male player other than Rafael to do so. Nadal and Roger Federer on track to win their first Grand Slam tournament in four years.
Federer and Nadal did not play in the US Open, and Djokovic lost by default in the fourth round after his ball hit a line judge in the throat.
“It doesn’t matter if I play against one of the Big Three or someone else,” Thiem said before the 2020 US Open final. “From the moment Novak left the tournament, it was clear that there would be a new Grand Slam champion. From that moment on, it was the furthest thing from my mind.”
At the French Open, Thiem lost to Djokovic in the semifinals in 2016, to Nadal in the semifinals in 2017, and to Nadal in the finals in 2018 and 2019. In the 2020 Australian Open final, Thiem led Djokovic two sets to one, but was eliminated in five sets.
Thiem and Andy Murray are the only players to beat Djokovic, Nadal and Federer more than five times each.
These victories include victories over Djokovic at the French Open in 2017 and 2019, Nadal at the 2020 Australian Open, and 2019 at Indian Wells, considered the fifth major in tennis. That includes a victory over Federer in the final.
“We were able to win a trophy that we really never dreamed of,” Thiem said. “So the journey has been amazing.”
