Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem delivers ‘very sad but very beautiful message’
It is official: Dominic Thiem will retire at the end of the 2024 season with the former US Open winner saying the injuries have taken its toll.
Rumours swirled earlier this week that the Austrian would bring down the curtain on his career as he has struggled with injury and form and he confirmed the news in a post on social media on Friday.
Thiem has won only two of the six matches he has played at ATP Tour level this year as his long-standing wrist injury continues to trouble him.
The 30-year-old has struggled to recapture the form that helped him to win the 2020 US Open while he also finished runner-up at the 2018 and 2019 French Open and the 2020 Australian Open.
In a video posted on Instagram, he said: “Hello everybody. I have to tell you a very important, a very sad but very beautiful message that the season 2024 is going to be my last one. I am going to finish my career at the end of the season.
“There are some reasons behind it. Firstly my wrist is not exactly the way it should be and it is not exactly the way how I want it and the second reason is my inner feeling. I was thinking about this decision. I was thinking about this decision for a very long time. I was thinking very carefully about it. I was thinking about the whole journey as a tennis player which was incredible.
“I have had success, I have won trophies I never dreamt of. The journey was incredible, all the ups and downs. It was an incredible experience which I was so thankful for and in the end I came to the conclusion that this decision to end my career by the end of the season is the only right one.
“I am very happy with it and I am super excited for everything that is coming next and for a lot more information and all the talks with my family and all the talks about my career and my past, check out my vlog which is coming out tomorrow.”
Thiem reached a career-high No 3 in March 2020 on the back of finishing runner-up to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open while he won 17 ATP Tour singles titles – including his 2020 US Open and the 2019 Miami Open. The Austrian also finished runner-up at the 2019 and 2020 ATP Finals.
