In Vienna, the tennis world bid farewell to Dominic Thiem as he announced his retirement from the sport. However, it is clear that Thiem’s love for tennis will never fade, as he has big plans for the future. The two-time Roland Garros finalist hopes to develop the debut One Shot Cup events into a regular series, where a single winner-take-all point format will be the norm. But more than that, Thiem wants to nurture talent within his nation’s borders and inspire the next generation of champions.
“The tennis world gave me so much. It would be really a dream if, out of the Thiem Academy, there is a young girl or a young boy who is climbing up to the top,” Thiem said. “It would be just amazing. I’m there to help.”
Despite his retirement looming, Thiem still has some tennis action left to enjoy. Over the weekend, he participated in the UTS Frankfurt event, where he had a great time hitting with football star Mario Gotze.
“I’ve played with him padel already a couple of times, so I didn’t know how he’s playing tennis. I was positively surprised,” Thiem shared. “He has such an amazing feeling for balls. But he knows it. The technique is super clean and nice. I have to say he’s a very good tennis player. It was a perfect way to get the first balls done here.”
Thiem’s peers in the eight-man field at UTS Frankfurt all made sure to send him off in style as he heads to Vienna. There were plenty of laughs and warm reflections on Thiem’s impact on the game.
“My first time practicing with him in Acapulco, I was 17 years old. He said some really nice things to me,” reminisced Thanasi Kokkinakis. “Unlucky not to win more Grand Slams, honestly. He was that good. A really nice guy and tennis will miss him.”
Denis Shapovalov also shared his sentiments, saying, “It’s pretty sad for me. He was the first top guy that I met as a junior when I was coming up. He was so open with me and so nice. He’s always been like a little bit of an older brother. Really been a cool guy to be around. I think everybody hates to see him go but he seems at peace with it, he seems happy. It’s nice to see.”
As Thiem prepares to say goodbye to professional tennis, his legacy and impact on the sport will undoubtedly be felt for years to come.
