It was therefore a smash from Luciano Darderi (22 years old, 42nd) which ended Dominic Thiem‘s career. The Austrian (31 years old, 318th) announced that he would bow out at home, during this Vienna Open. So it’s done. Players rarely leave the circuit with a victory, Thiem was no exception to the rule. But if he lost in two sets (7-6 [6]6-2) this Tuesday, however, he played a very good first set where he led 4-2 before being caught by his opponent and by his current limits. His one-handed backhand once again worked wonders in this first round.
Once the match was over, he was treated to a long ovation from a crowd with moist eyes and tender smiles. He gave a speech where tears had no place and he took his last match racket to put it under glass. It will not go to the museum but will soon be sold at auction for the benefit of charity.
Thiem will now move on after 13 years of professional career. A career where he will have won 17 titles, the last of which, the US Open 2020, was the completion. Since then, between injuries and depression, he has never been able to find the level that allowed him to also compete in the finals of Roland-Garros (2018 and 2019), the Australian Open (2020) and to finish third. world rank in 2020.
