Dominic Thiem concluded his professional tennis career on Tuesday, suffering a defeat against Luciano Darderi in the first round of the Erste Bank Open, with a scoreline of 7-6 (6), 6-2.
The former U.S. Open champion, who secured his title in 2020, had previously announced his intention to retire following difficulties in regaining his peak performance level after a serious wrist injury.

At 31 years old, Thiem found himself competing before a supportive home crowd in Vienna. However, after establishing a brief 4-2 lead in the match, he struggled to maintain his momentum. When leaving the court, he received a warm farewell from the audience, marking a poignant end to his illustrious career.

Throughout his time on the professional tour, Thiem not only claimed the U.S. Open title but also reached the finals of three Grand Slam tournaments, including the French Open in both 2018 and 2019 and the Australian Open in 2020.

In the next stage of the tournament, Darderi will face either Jack Draper or Kei Nishikori.
Additionally, Marcos Giron advanced after defeating Alex Michelsen with a score of 7-6 (4), 6-3, and is set to compete against the tournament’s top seed, Alex Zverev, in the next round.
Other notable winners on Tuesday included Frances Tiafoe, Lorenzo Musetti, Gael Monfils, and second-seeded Alex de Minaur, all solidifying their positions in the tournament.