Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem has no regrets about his retirement

NEW YORK — Four years after his only major title, Dominic Thiem stood on the same court in Arthur Ashe Stadium and played the final Grand Slam match of his career.

While the stadium was the same, almost everything else was different. In 2020, the second-seeded Thiem made a dramatic five-set comeback against Alexander Zverev in the final before endless rows of empty seats due to the pandemic. On Monday, a rapt crowd watched Thiem, now ranked No. 210 after struggling with a wrist injury for years, fall to American Ben Shelton in three largely unremarkable sets, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 in less than two hours.

But despite the lopsided result and early elimination, Thiem couldn’t suppress a smile.

“It’s actually a very important moment for me, because I achieved the biggest success of my career in this strange 2020,” Thiem, 30, told the crowd after the match. “It was strange and different circumstances and unfortunately I achieved this success without any of you. That was of course a very great moment, but on the other hand also quite sad.

“So I’m super happy that I got the chance to play my last US Open, my last match here on this court, and now I get to spend some time with you guys to thank you all and catch up on the time we missed four years ago. It’s a really special moment. I’m very grateful to everyone who came and everyone who gave me the chance to play here for the last time.”

Not a dry eye in the house 🥲

Our 2020 champion Dominic Thiem bids an emotional farewell to the US Open. photo.twitter.com/Ru7AKwpYL1

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2024

In addition to the highlights of his 2020 run displayed on the video board, Thiem was presented with a framed poster of the tournament featuring photos from his years playing at the US Open. After posing for photos on court, he sat down and watched Shelton conduct his post-match interview. He later said he was just trying to take it all in.

It probably wasn’t the way Thiem would have wanted to end his Grand Slam career. He would have undoubtedly wanted to win more major titles before riding off into the sunset, but for Thiem it was still more than he could have ever hoped for.

“I think the basic reason why I’m here now and retiring quite young is still the bad luck with the wrist injury,” Thiem said Monday afternoon. “But again, I’m really happy with the career I had before that. I never expected (that) I would be this successful, so I don’t really have any regrets and I’m fine with that.”

Unlike many of his peers, Thiem didn’t turn pro with an inherent confidence that he could one day win a major. In fact, as he told reporters in 2020, the first time he realized it was something he could realistically do was after reaching his first semifinal at the 2016 French Open.

And even then he was certain that if he ever did it, it would be on the red clay.

But when the 2020 US Open arrived, he had already played in three Slam finals, two at Roland Garros and one at the Australian Open. In New York, he wouldn’t be facing a member of the Big Three (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic) and he knew this could be his best chance to establish himself among the game’s best on the sport’s biggest stage.

Despite being down early in the final and suffering from nerves and cramps in the fifth set, Thiem did not miss the opportunity, collapsing on the court after securing the win in a mixture of disbelief, relief and joy.

But he was never able to replicate that success. In 2021, he began to struggle with his wrist, his overall form and his mental health. In 2022, he dropped out of the top 300 and went 14 months without a tour victory. Thiem has won just one major since the start of the 2022 season — at last year’s US Open — and failed to even qualify at this year’s French Open.

In March, Thiem acknowledged that he would likely never be able to play at his old level again and announced that this would be his final season on tour.

“From (that) moment on I was happy with it,” Thiem said. “Of course I could also prepare for (this) new chapter(s) that are coming soon. To be honest, I always enjoyed playing on tour and I was very patient with it, but I also always enjoyed being at home and, as far as possible, having some kind of normal life at home. And that’s why I’m always looking forward to it now, I’m really looking forward to, that normal life is coming now.

“That’s why I think it’s not that difficult for me, and that’s why I’m very happy with my decision.”

Thiem, who officially ends his career next month at the Vienna Open in his native Austria, said he looks forward to not having to travel as much in the future and “really getting used to living in one place.” He plans to continue his work on sustainability projects and find a way to stay involved in tennis. He reiterated several times how excited he is for what lies ahead.

Before the tournament, 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu was asked about the recently retired Andy Murray and whether the tour felt different in his absence. She didn’t mince her words.

“Tennis is unforgivable in that sense. It doesn’t matter who you are, it just goes on,” she said. “There’s always a new match, there’s always a new tournament.”

Thiem seemed to have accepted that reality long ago. And after Monday’s match, Shelton echoed Raducanu’s sentiment, but said he wouldn’t soon forget Thiem.

“I think if I learn anything from him, it’s that this is a game that’s unforgiving,” Shelton said. “Things can change quickly. You can be at the top of your game and your body can’t hold up or you have crazy accidents, injuries happen all the time. So tennis is not forever. Obviously he still had a career that a lot of people dream of. But yeah, things can change quickly, so definitely be grateful for every moment that I get to play here.”