DOMINIC Thiem, the Austrian tennis player who was once ranked third in the world, announced he will retire at the end of the 2024 season.
“Hello everyone. I have to convey to you a very important, very sad, but very beautiful message that the 2024 season will be my last season,” said Thiem in a video uploaded to Instagram, Friday (10/5), as reported by Between.
Thiem revealed a number of reasons behind his decision, including the wrist problem he was experiencing and the struggles he had been thinking about for a long time.
“Firstly, my wrist is not as it should be and not exactly as I want it to be and the second reason is my inner feelings. I am thinking about this decision. I have been thinking about this decision for a long time,” said Thiem.
“I’m thinking about it very carefully. I’m thinking about the whole journey as an incredible tennis player.”
Thiem has so far collected 17 tour-level titles during his career, holding a win-loss record of 348-210.
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The Austrian won his only major tournament trophy at the 2020 United States Open. He won an ATP Masters 1000 crown at Indian Wells in 2019 by beating Roger Federer in the final.
He won his maiden tour-level title on clay in Nice in 2015, with 10 of his 17 trophies coming on the surface.
“I have achieved success, I have won trophies that I never dreamed of. The journey has been incredible, all the ups and downs,” said Thiem.
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“It was an incredible experience for which I am very grateful and in the end I came to the conclusion that the decision to end my career at the end of the season was the only right one.”
“I’m very happy about it and I’m very excited for everything that will happen next,” said the 30-year-old.
Thiem took his first win at tour level on home soil in Vienna in 2011 and rose to a career-high ranking in March 2020.
Thiem, who finished in the top 10 for five consecutive times in 2016-2020, remained in the Top 5 until June 2021, when he suffered a right wrist injury.
The two-time Roland Garros finalist has qualified for the ATP Finals five times, reaching the title match in 2019 and 2020. (Z-6)
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