Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem to retire at end of season

Austria's Dominic Thiem, the former US Open champion, made the announcement of his retirement from professional tennis on Friday.

This decision comes as a result of a persistent wrist injury that has plagued his career. Thiem's journey took a downturn after his victorious moment in 2020, when he triumphed over Alexander Zverev in the US Open final, which was held without spectators due to the pandemic.

In a video statement shared on social media, the 30-year-old expressed that the upcoming 2024 season would be his last, marking the end of his remarkable career.

Thiem cited various factors that influenced his retirement decision, primarily his ongoing wrist injury and his personal introspection on the highs and lows of his incredible journey as a tennis player.

Thiem emphasized that he had contemplated this decision for an extensive period of time. He expressed contentment with his choice and conveyed his excitement for the future endeavors that lie ahead.

Once ranked as the world number three, Thiem's career suffered a setback when a wrist injury forced him to take a nine-month break from the sport, resulting in a significant drop in his ranking to 352 in June 2022. This injury also prevented him from defending his US Open title. Currently, he holds the 117th position in the rankings.

Throughout his career, Thiem achieved notable success, securing a total of 17 tournament victories, including his triumph at the US Open in 2020. He also reached the finals twice at the French Open and once at the Australian Open. Additionally, he competed in two finals at the prestigious end-of-year tournament in London, which brings together the top eight players of the season.

Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis star, recently praised Thiem, commending his sportsmanship and respect on the court. Djokovic acknowledged the challenges of returning to the game after an injury and expressed his admiration for Thiem's character.