Dominic Thiem was honored at a special retirement ceremony in Vienna ATP Tour
In Vienna
‘One last dance!’: Thiem’s retirement honored at special ceremony Sunday in Vienna
Federer, Nadal, Djokovic among those who will honor the former World No. 3
October 20, 2024
e|motion/Bildagentur Zolles KG/Sascha Feuster
Dominic Thiem on display during his farewell celebrations on Sunday in Vienna.
Written by Andy West
Dominic Thiem’s career celebration has begun at the Erste Bank Open.
The former No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings was honored with a special ‘Top Sunday’ at the indoor hardcourt ATP 500 in Vienna. After Thiem put on a show against Alexander Zverev – the man he defeated to win his only major title at the 2020 US Open – dozens of tennis and other sporting icons gathered to pay their respects to the star.
“It was an amazing journey. You were very important, you were opponents and friends and it was always a pleasure to be with you,” said Thiem after passing through a guard that included his ATP Tour rivals Frances Tiafoe, Matteo Berrettini and Jack Draper, and his team. former coach Nicolas Massu and Germans Boris Becker, Tommy Haas and Matthias Bachinger. “It means a lot to me that you were there today.”
Things we like to see 🤗#Thank you Domi | @ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/Rzvtm4RX51
– ATP Tour (@atptour) October 20, 2024
Thiem is a huge star in Austria and has been hugely popular on the ATP Tour with fans and fellow players alike since becoming champion in 2011. He lifted 17 tour-level trophies before his career was interrupted by a serious wrist injury in 2021. . Although he returned to competition in 2022, he was unable to recapture his best form and announced in May that 2024 would be his last season on Tour.
Thiem still has one last ATP Tour event to play before he hangs up his racquet. The 31-year-old will face Luciano Darderi in the first round in Vienna, where he lifted the title in 2019.
“I didn’t think there would be a better Sunday in Vienna. I hope to see many of you again on Tuesday,” Thiem said to the home crowd. “It’s very sad that the tour is over, but it was a great time.”
Thiem’s former rivals who will pay their respects to the Austrian at the Wiener Stadthalle include Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who appeared in a previously recorded tribute video. Thiem is one of only two players (along with Andy Murray) to have achieved at least five Lexus ATP Head2Head victories against one of the ‘big three’.
“You were always a great person, and off the court,” Federer said in German. “It’s always right. Your friendship was important in the Journey. We always got along, and it was fun for me. All the best for the future, and a big congratulations on your incredible work, Dominic. I’m sure we’ll see each other soon, but for now, have a good night.”
Djokovic said: “Thank you very much for everything you have given us, especially tennis. I’m glad you got a chance to say goodbye in Vienna. The last dance. I wish you a good tournament, with all your family members there, and celebrate it, because you deserve it my friend. All the best.”
Zverev previously also made his own charge on the court.
“First of all, I’m losing a friend on the Tour, but then again we played some really big games together. But it’s goodbye, not goodbye,” said the German player, echoing what many of Thiem’s fans are thinking: “I hope he’ll be bored in a year or two and come back to the Tour again.”
