Vienna
‘One final dance!’: Retiring Thiem honoured in particular Sunday ceremony in Vienna
Federer, Nadal, Djokovic amongst these to pay tribute to former World No. 3
October 20, 2024
e|movement/Bildagentur Zolles KG/Sascha Feuster
Dominic Thiem in exhibition motion throughout his farewell celebrations Sunday in Vienna.
By Andy West
The celebration of Dominic Thiem’s storied profession has begun on the Erste Financial institution Open.
The previous No. 3 within the PIF ATP Rankings was honoured on a particular ‘Tremendous Sunday’ on the indoor hard-court ATP 500 in Vienna. After Thiem performed an exhibition set in opposition to Alexander Zverev — the person he defeated to win his solely main title on the 2020 US Open — a number of tennis and different sporting icons gathered to pay tribute to the retiring star.
“It was an unimaginable journey. You had been an important ones, opponents and associates and it was all the time a pleasure to be with you,” stated Thiem after strolling by a guard of honour that included his ATP Tour rivals Frances Tiafoe, Matteo Berrettini and Jack Draper, in addition to his former coach Nicolas Massu and German stars Boris Becker, Tommy Haas and Matthias Bachinger. “It means a lot to me that you just had been there right now.”
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Thiem is a large star in Austria and has been a extremely common presence on the ATP Tour with followers and fellow gamers alike since he turned professional in 2011. He lifted 17 tour-level trophies earlier than his profession was disrupted by a severe wrist harm in 2021. Though he returned to competing in 2022, he was unable to rediscover his finest kind and introduced in Might that 2024 can be his last season on Tour.
Thiem nonetheless has one last ATP Tour occasion to play earlier than he hangs up his racquet. The 31-year-old will tackle Luciano Darderi within the first-round in Vienna, the place he lifted the title in 2019.
“I could not have imagined a greater final Sunday in Vienna. I hope to see a lot of you once more on Tuesday,” stated Thiem to his residence crowd. “It hurts extremely that the journey is over, but it surely was an exquisite time.”
Former rivals of Thiem to pay tribute to the Austrian on the Wiener Stadthalle included Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who appeared in a pre-recorded tribute video. Thiem is one in every of solely two gamers (alongside Andy Murray) to have earned a minimum of 5 Lexus ATP Head2Head victories in opposition to every of the ‘Large Three’.
“You had been all the time an excellent man, additionally off the courtroom,” stated Federer in German. “At all times truthful. Your friendship was vital on the Tour. We all the time bought on nicely, and it was nice for me. All the most effective with the longer term, and large congratulations in your unbelievable profession, Dominic. I’m positive we’ll see one another quickly, however for now, have an excellent night.”
Djokovic stated: “Thanks very a lot for all that you’ve given to all of us, however notably tennis. I’m glad that you’ve the chance to say goodbye in Vienna. One final dance. I want you an excellent match, with all your loved ones members current, and have a good time it, since you deserve it my pal. All the most effective.”
Zverev earlier additionally made his personal tribute on courtroom.
“In the beginning, I am shedding a pal on the Tour, however in fact we additionally performed the best matches collectively. But it surely’s goodbye, not goodbye,” stated the German, expressing what many Thiem followers are pondering: ”I hope he will get bored in a 12 months or two and comes again to the Tour once more.”
