Earlier this year, Dominic Thiem announced that he would retire at the end of the season. As his career draws to a close, he looked back on his successful journey and hinted at what may lie ahead.
When did you decide to retire?
“I made the final decision in March. But towards the end of last year, this thought crossed my mind for the first time. It was not a good sign. I didn’t want to believe it. But it got stronger and I had to deal with it. I was sad but also relieved. All those years were intense. Not being able to get back on top was challenging. Now I’m ready for a new chapter.”
How painful is it for you to play tennis now?
“It’s not painful, more discomfort. The feeling in the wrist is not right. I practiced 15 years intensively. My wrist was broken twice and it never came back.”
What will you miss most about being in yours?
“I will miss going to all the center fields and feeling the energy of the fans. It’s an incredible feeling that I will never have again. The joy of victory is above all. Two or three hours afterwards are great.”
How will you fill your days when you retire?
“I’m already thinking about what to do next. I’m not a guy who’s going to sit around and do nothing. I want to do good for the environment and other people. Football is a great passion of mine. I never had time to play and watch because of my tennis. My dream is to have a stable club because this is the future. A bit like Forest Green Rovers.”
Would you be interested in coaching the tournament?
“If you’ve been in the tennis world as long as I have, it’s almost an obligation to pass on my knowledge. I don’t think I will go on the tour as a coach, but I want to help young players, especially in Austria, to go from the juniors to the professional tour.”
When you look back on your career, are you satisfied with what you have achieved?
“yes. When I was young I never thought that one day I would win a Grand Slam or be number three in the world. My dream was just to be on tour. When I was in my prime between 2015-2021I was playing very well. I should have won more Grand Slams. But I am satisfied with my career”.
Would you have won a grand slam or two if the Big Three hadn’t played in your era?
“I don’t know. It is difficult to say. When the Big Three were at their peak, people said that when they left it would be easier to win big titles. But then Alcaraz and Sinner came along and it’s just as difficult as before.”
How challenging is it to face Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros?
“It is perhaps the most difficult task in sports. The record he has there – 14 headlines, 106 wins and only four losses – it’s remarkable. I am very happy to have played four times with him. Although it is painful. The final in 2019 i hurt a lot because i thought i could win. I was playing very well. That match showed me if Nadal is close to his best, it’s impossible to beat him there.”
You will leave the tournament with one 5-2 winning record against Roger Federer. How does that feel?
“It’s a nice feeling, but I have to be fair and say that in three of those games, he wasn’t at his peak or he was injured. Playing Federer was extremely difficult as I felt he could do whatever he wanted to you. He would play with you.”
What was the best match you played in your career?
“The one that comes to mind is in 2019 against Novak Djokovic in the Nitto group stage ATP the finals. i won 7-6 in the third set and I liked the way I played. The atmosphere in the arena was incredible that night.”
What was your favorite tour and why?
“of US Open. Not only because I won there, but the energy of the crowd, the event and the city is great. Sometimes I was happy to leave after three weeks because I was so tired. But it was always a crazy, fun time.”
Why do you think you struggled to go deep at Wimbledon?
“I guess grass is not my best surface. But I was never able to fully recover after the French Open and make the transition. It is very difficult to change from clay to grass in such a short time. The Big Three did this far better than everyone else. That’s why they won so many big titles.”
Is there anything you would like to change in the world of tennis?
“I like to watch tennis. Grand slams should stay the same. However, I think you could shorten some of the tournaments with match breaks. You can also combine a padel and a tennis event. That would be fun. But tennis is going well.”
