‘So sad’: 2020 US Open winner Dominic Thiem’s retirement call rocks tennis

A grand slam champion during men’s tennis’ Big Three era has shocked the sport with reports he’ll hang up his racquet at just 30.

Dominic Thiem of Austria and Rafael Nadal of Spain pose for a photograph. (AAP Image/Michael Dodge) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

The tennis world has been rocked by reports 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem is set to hang up his racquet at the age of just 30 at the end of the season.

Thiem was twice a French Open finalist, and the 2020 Australian Open finalist before breaking through to become a grand slam champion at the US Open.

Taking some of the shine off the triumph was that it was during Covid restrictions and therefore in front of an empty stadium.

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But the Austrian was one of the few stars to challenge the Big Three, winning five of seven in his career head-to-head record against Roger Federer, six of 16 against Rafael Nadal and five of 12 matches against Novak Djokovic.

Unfortunately for Thiem, two of his losses against Nadal came in the 2018 and 2019 French Open Finals, while he lost to a five-set thriller to Djokovic in the 2020 Aussie Open decider after going up two sets to one.

Thiem reached a career-high of World No. 3 in 2020.

Dominic Thiem after winning the 2020 US Open. Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP

But injuries hit in 2021, starting with a knee injury, before a wrist injury ended his season and sidelined him for nine months.

Since returning from the injury, Thiem hasn’t been able to return to the heights of earlier in his career, able to get his ranking as low as No. 72 in 2023.

Thiem is currently ranked No. 117 in the world on the ATP rankings, meaning he’s currently outside the top 100, who get automatic qualifying for the French Open.

Despite coming back from his injuries, Thiem’s wrist has never been the same and sees the 30-year-old reportedly set to quit the sport.

Austrian publication Salzburger Nachrichten reported the news, claiming he would be looking at finishing up in his home tournament at the Vienna Open in October.

Last month, Thiem took to Instagram to reveal he was still struggling with the wrist injury.

“As I said in my last interview, I’m not the player of 2020 anymore,” he wrote on Instagram.

“I have to deal with the current situation, with the fact that my wrist doesn’t give me the strength it used to.

“I have to be honest with myself. The pain is a lot less compared to the last few weeks, but like I said, I haven’t regained my full strength.”

Thiem has seen the writing on the wall. Photo by William WEST / AFP

The reaction from the tennis community was swift.

The Tennis Letter wrote: “Dominic Thiem will reportedly retire at the end of the season at home in Austria. You have to feel for him.

“He’s had a terrible time with injuries & just hasn’t been able to rediscover the magic, but he certainly tried.

“Hoping his last year will give him some unforgettable moments. He deserves it.”

Tennis reporter Jose Morgado commented: “Very sad if true but not surprising,” adding that he’d heard Thiem had “already started to tell his sponsors”.

Tennis blogger Scott Barclay said: “Many will say that Dominic Thiem only won one major title. I’ll forever say that Dominic Thiem won a major title.”

Journalist Neil McMahon posted: “When you consider sporting What Ifs, Dominic Thiem — his career blown up by the Covid-injury double whammy right after he won his first major — is right up there. And by all accounts, one of the good guys.”

Italian sports journalist Pietro Marazzato added: “They’ll tell you that #Thiem was one of the 153 Grand Slam champions. But I’ll say he was World No. 3 with 9125 points, built his credibility in spite of the Big 3, defeated five times Federer and Djokovic (twice at the French) and six Nadal.

“Yes, Dominic Thiem was special!”

Another fan wrote: “So so so so so sad. One of the few that had the capability to regularly beat the big 3 on the biggest stages (and even when Thiem lost those matches he often really made them suffer big time).”