"It hurts": Dominic Thiem expresses pain in retirement after playing last match

Wednesday, 23 October 2024 at 17:15

Austria’s Dominic Thiem has stated that retirement ‘hurts’ after playing his final match. The 31-year-old played the final match of his career on Tuesday as he lost to Italy’s Luciano Darderi in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-2 in the round of 32 of the Vienna Open.

Thiem spoke to the media after the match where he stated that retirement ‘hurts’. “I’ve had so many nice goodbyes in the last few months, but today I want to say thank you for all the sensational years,” said Thiem. “I am only a part of this career. The whole journey has been an absolute dream and I want this afternoon, this evening to be yours. I couldn’t have imagined it any better. Thank you.”

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“Those emotions, those feelings. Being in the flow, like I was in the first set. These are the things that will never come back. It hurts. But at the same time I was playing some forehands, especially in the second set, and they were not even coming to the net. So it was the right decision.”

Thiem was once regarded as one of the most talented players in men’s tennis. He was also tipped as the player to overtake the thrown once the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic would leave. However, a serious wrist injury turned things upside down. He return to the court after spending nearly 12 months but never managed to return to his very best.

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Thiem finished his career with a Grand Slam to his name. He lifted his only major title in 2020 in New York after beating Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the final in a five-set thriller with a score of 2–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 7–6(8–6). Other than that, he also played in the final of the Grand Slam three times but ended up on the losing side.

Azeem Siddiqui

Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.

He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.

In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.

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