Dominic Thiem, the 2020 U.S. Open champion, officially ended his professional tennis career on Tuesday with a first-round defeat at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. The 31-year-old Austrian faced Luciano Darderi, losing in straight sets 7-6 (6), 6-2. Thiem had previously announced his retirement from competitive tennis after struggling to regain his top form due to a persistent wrist injury that sidelined him for much of his career.
Competing in front of a supportive home crowd, Thiem initially showed promise, taking a 4-2 lead in the first set. However, he struggled to maintain his momentum and ultimately faltered as the match progressed. The crowd gave him a warm ovation as he departed from center court, acknowledging his significant contributions to the sport.
Throughout his career, Thiem achieved remarkable success, including runner-up finishes at three Grand Slam tournaments: the French Open in 2018 and 2019, and the Australian Open in 2020. His powerful baseline game and tenacity on the court earned him a reputation as one of the leading players of his generation.
Following Thiem’s exit, Darderi advanced to face either Jack Draper or Kei Nishikori in the next round. Other notable winners on Tuesday included Marcos Giron, who defeated Alex Michelsen 7-6 (4), 6-3, setting up a match against top seed Alex Zverev. Frances Tiafoe, Lorenzo Musetti, Gael Monfils, and second-seeded Alex de Minaur also progressed in the tournament, showcasing a competitive day of tennis in Vienna.
