Federer, Nadal Congratulate Thiem on His ‘Illustrious Career’ as Austrian Retires

Tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have congratulated Dominic Thiem on his retirement following a first-round defeat to Luciano Darderi at the Erste Bank Open.

Thiem, who won the 2020 US Open and reached the finals of three other Grand Slams, enjoyed a successful career with 17 ATP singles titles and a career-high ATP ranking of No. 3. He remained in the Top 10 for much of six years.

“An illustrious career comes to a close. Congratulations Domi,” Federer wrote on his Instagram story. “No matter the surface, you always found a way to beat me with your thunderous backhands. But more importantly, you did it with grace and sportsmanship,” he added.

Thiem won five out of seven ATP matches against Federer, including their sole championship encounter at the 2019 Indian Wells, where he claimed his only ATP Masters 1000 title. Nadal, who leads their rivalry 10-6, also expressed his sentiments on Instagram, stating, “Danke Domi.”

Thiem maintained a notable record against the ‘Big Three’—Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer—finishing with a 16-19 record. He held a 5-2 advantage over Federer, was 5-7 against Djokovic, and had a 6-10 record against Nadal, with four victories on clay.

In his final professional match, Thiem started strong, showcasing his signature backhand. He initially took the lead against world No. 42 Darderi but ultimately lost in a tight first set tie-break. The final score was 7-6 (6), 6-2 in favor of Darderi, ending Thiem’s career on a bittersweet note.

Following the match, Thiem received a standing ovation, and a special fan choreography celebrated his career. The racket he used in his last match was placed in a display case at the “Official Tennis Experience” exhibition.

In an emotional farewell speech, Thiem expressed gratitude to the fans: “I’ve had so many wonderful goodbyes recently, but today I want to thank you for all the incredible years. This journey has been a dream, and I want this day to be yours. I couldn’t have imagined it any better—thank you.”

Close friend Alexander Zverev shared his thoughts on Instagram, saying, “Everyone’s tennis career will eventually come to an end. But the friendships we build will last a lifetime. Thank you @domithiem for the toughest battles on court and the unforgettable moments off it. This isn’t goodbye; it’s a see you soon, my friend.”