Tennis

Thousands of dedicated fans braved torrential rain in southern Germany to witness the final match of one of the Tennis Channel Bundesliga's most celebrated stars, Dominic Thiem. The former US Open champion returned to TK GW Mannheim for a poignant farewell before his retirement later this year.The Bundesliga boasts a reputation as the world's premier tennis league, attracting a constellation of Top 100 players. Tennis legends such as Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have graced the German club courts. Thiem, a fan favorite, has been instrumental in Mannheim's three Bundesliga titles between 2018 and 2021.His final appearance was a bittersweet affair. Despite a singles defeat, Thiem rallied to secure a doubles victory, earning a point for his former club. The crowd erupted in thunderous applause, with ballkids, players, staff, and fans alike expressing their admiration."Thank you, that's the biggest word I can say," Thiem said, his voice filled with emotion. "And also a thank you to the fans who stayed so long because the weather was difficult.""I'm very emotional. It really was a wonderful farewell. Of course one of the most special tournaments I've had in my life, the home tournament where so many beautiful things happened."Earlier this summer, Thiem announced his decision to retire from the ATP Tour in 2024, citing a persistent wrist injury and a desire to pursue other passions."I want to give you a very important, very sad, but also very beautiful message: The 2024 season will be my last," he said in a statement. "I will end my career at the end of this season.""There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, my wrist is obviously not the way it should be and it's not the way I wanted it to be. The second reason is my inner feeling. I thought about this decision for a very long time. I thought about it very carefully."The Tennis Channel Bundesliga has been one of the few tournaments Thiem has participated in this year. After his recent return to Kitzbühel, where he triumphed in 2019, Thiem will decide on his participation in the US Open. He plans to join Nick Kyrgios and Frances Tiafoe at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in Frankfurt before making his final appearance at his home tournament in Vienna.

Dominic Thiem, the two-time French Open runner-up, bid farewell to Roland Garros on Wednesday with a second-round qualifying loss to Otto Virtanen. The 30-year-old Austrian, who announced his retirement earlier this month, received a standing ovation and chants of "Thank you Domi" during a farewell ceremony after his 6-2, 7-5 defeat.Thiem, who reached the final in Paris in 2018 and 2019, struggled to regain his top form after a wrist injury in 2021. Despite his recent struggles, he expressed gratitude for his time at the French Open. "I've really enjoyed every single year of it," he said.Thiem's career highlight came in 2020 when he won the US Open, becoming the first man to overcome a two-set deficit in the final in 71 years. He also reached the final of the Australian Open that year and achieved a career-high ranking of No. 3.However, his wrist injury in 2021 derailed his progress. He was sidelined for nine months and has struggled to regain his previous level of play. Despite his retirement announcement, Thiem remains optimistic about the future. "I'm looking forward to the next chapter of my life," he said.Thiem's retirement marks the end of an era for Austrian tennis. He has been a role model for young players and has inspired a generation of fans. His legacy will live on as one of the most successful Austrian tennis players of all time.

Diego Schwartzman, the 2020 Roland Garros semifinalist, has joined Dominic Thiem in advancing to the next stage of qualifying at the French Open. Schwartzman, seeded 29th in the men's field, defeated Lukas Neumayer of Austria 6-2, 6-3 on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.Schwartzman, who is set to retire in February 2025, capitalized on five of his seven break points to secure the victory in 70 minutes. "Being honest, the first two games I was so nervous," Schwartzman said after the match. "I was not feeling my body—playing good, but it was tough to make good decisions with the game.""After that I started to play much better, trying to enjoy, trying to smile and enjoy the people no matter if I do well or not."Schwartzman will next face Quentin Halys, who defeated Alexis Galarneau 7-5, 6-3. Their section of the draw opened up on Monday when Ugo Blanchet stunned top seed Cristian Garin in three sets.In other qualifying action, eighth seed Zizou Bergs rolled over wild card Clement Chidekh 6-1, 6-1, while American J.J. Wolf, the No. 2 seed, held off Ryan Peniston 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-2.In the women's qualifying draw, top seed Sara Errani launched her campaign by defeating Ann Li 6-3, 6-4. Errani, who has 23 main-draw wins at Roland Garros, will next face Alice Tubello.Former semifinalist Tamara Zidansek, seeded 25th, dismissed Polona Hercog 6-2, 6-4, while eighth seed Katie Volynets also cruised 6-1, 6-2 against Lucrezia Stefanini.

Dominic Thiem, the 2020 US Open champion, has embarked on his final Roland Garros campaign with a hard-fought victory in the first round of qualifying. The 30-year-old Austrian, who announced his retirement at the end of the 2024 season, defeated Italy's Franco Agamenone 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Monday.Thiem, a two-time finalist at Roland Garros, was not among the wild card recipients for the men's singles draw. As a result, he must win three qualifying matches to earn a spot in the main event. This is the first time since the 2014 Australian Open that Thiem has had to enter Grand Slam qualifying.Despite dropping the first set, Thiem rallied to defeat Agamenone, a 31-year-old who has only made one Grand Slam main-draw appearance. Thiem struck 41 winners and converted five of 14 break point opportunities to secure the victory in two hours and 19 minutes.Up next for Thiem is 22-year-old Otto Virtanen of Finland, who also defeated an Australian opponent in the first round of qualifying. Virtanen, who has only played one Grand Slam main draw at the 2023 US Open, will pose a significant challenge to Thiem.Thiem's retirement announcement has cast a bittersweet shadow over his final Roland Garros campaign. The Austrian has enjoyed a successful career, winning 17 ATP titles, including the 2020 US Open. However, he has also struggled with injuries in recent years, which have hampered his progress.Despite the challenges, Thiem remains determined to make the most of his final season on the ATP Tour. He will be hoping to make a deep run at Roland Garros, where he has always performed well. A strong performance in Paris would be a fitting farewell to one of the most talented players of his generation.

Dominic Thiem and Diego Schwartzman, two beloved tennis stars, are set to embark on a poignant journey next week as they attempt to qualify for one final appearance at the prestigious Roland Garros tournament.Thiem, a two-time finalist at the French Open, and Schwartzman, a former semifinalist, are among the players vying for a spot in the main draw. Their participation is contingent on no player withdrawals over the weekend that would allow Thiem to automatically qualify.The Austrian and Argentine have a long history of competition and friendship. On Friday, Schwartzman shared a heartfelt message on social media, expressing their shared determination to make one last run at Roland Garros."Let's try one more time @domithiem," Schwartzman wrote.In 2020, Schwartzman narrowly defeated Thiem in a thrilling quarterfinal that lasted over five hours. Since then, they have combined for only one additional Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance, with Schwartzman reaching the last eight at Roland Garros a year later.Both players have recently announced their plans to retire from professional tennis. Thiem will bid farewell in Vienna this fall, while Schwartzman intends to hang up his racquet in his hometown of Buenos Aires next February.Thiem's last competitive match was a second-round qualifying loss to Thanasi Kokkinakis in Madrid. His only previous Grand Slam qualifying attempt was a successful one at the 2014 Australian Open.Schwartzman, known affectionately as "El Peque," first qualified for Roland Garros in 2012. He was eliminated in the first round of Australian Open qualifying earlier this year.The upcoming Roland Garros qualifying tournament will be a bittersweet moment for Thiem and Schwartzman. It will be their last chance to compete on the hallowed clay courts of Paris and to create more memories in a sport that has brought them so much joy and success.

Two-time French Open finalist Dominic Thiem's hopes of a wildcard entry into this year's tournament were dashed on Tuesday, forcing the former US Open champion to navigate the qualifying rounds to secure a spot in the main draw. The 30-year-old Austrian, who announced his retirement at the end of the season due to a persistent wrist injury, will now face an uphill battle to reach the Roland Garros main event.Thiem's absence from the wildcard list was not the only surprise, as 2018 French Open women's champion Simona Halep and 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu were also overlooked by the French Tennis Federation. Instead, the wildcards were awarded to Alexandre Muller, who was defeated in the fourth round of the Rome Open as a qualifier, and Alize Cornet, who will be making her final appearance at the tournament. American Nicolas Moreno de Alboran and Australian Adam Walton also received wildcards.The decision to deny Thiem a wildcard has raised eyebrows, given his impressive record at Roland Garros. The Austrian reached the final in 2018 and 2019, losing to Rafael Nadal on both occasions. However, his form has suffered in recent years due to his wrist injury, and he has struggled to regain his previous level of play.Halep's omission from the wildcard list is also surprising, considering her status as a former champion and her recent resurgence in form. The Romanian has won two Grand Slam titles and reached the semifinals of the French Open on three occasions. Raducanu's absence is less surprising, as she has struggled to maintain her form since her US Open triumph last year.The French Open, the second Grand Slam of the season, will get underway on May 26. The qualifying rounds will begin on May 22, and Thiem will be among the favorites to secure one of the remaining spots in the main draw.

Dominic Thiem, the former world No. 3 tennis player, has announced his retirement from the sport at the end of the 2024 season. In a heartfelt video statement, Thiem cited ongoing wrist issues and a deep inner feeling as the reasons behind his decision.Thiem's career has been marked by both triumph and adversity. He reached three Grand Slam finals before claiming his first major title at the 2020 US Open. However, injuries, particularly to his right wrist, have plagued him in recent years.The Austrian first hinted at his retirement plans in March, revealing renewed wrist problems ahead of the clay court season. Rumors intensified this week with reports that he would play his final tournament in his hometown of Vienna.Thiem's retirement announcement has been met with sadness and admiration from the tennis community. Novak Djokovic praised Thiem's resilience and determination in the face of injuries."I think he's a great example of somebody who never gives up," Djokovic said. "We are all hoping as tennis fans and colleagues of his that he can find the level because he was always very exciting to watch."Thiem's legacy will be defined by his exceptional one-handed backhand, powerful forehand, and intense on-court presence. He has inspired countless fans with his fighting spirit and unwavering belief in his abilities.As Thiem prepares for his final season, he will undoubtedly be celebrated for his contributions to the sport. His retirement marks the end of an era, but his impact on tennis will continue to be felt for years to come.

Dominic Thiem, the 2020 US Open champion, is reportedly set to retire from professional tennis at the Vienna Open in late October. The Austrian outlet SN claims that Thiem has informed sponsors of his decision.Thiem's career has been marked by both triumph and adversity. He has won 17 tour-level trophies, including the US Open in 2020. However, a right wrist injury in 2021 derailed his progress, and he has struggled to regain his former form.Despite his recent struggles, Thiem remains a respected figure in the tennis world. Novak Djokovic, who defeated Thiem in the 2020 Australian Open final, praised Thiem's character and determination."He's a great guy, very good person, someone that has very good manners, good values, family man, somebody that always took time to say hello, always showed respect on the court, off the court," Djokovic said. "I really like Dominic."Thiem's retirement will mark the end of an era in Austrian tennis. He is one of the country's most successful players, and his absence will be felt on the ATP Tour.

Dominic Thiem's recent video message sparked concerns among his followers, but the Austrian star has clarified that he is not retiring. Instead, he is facing a setback in his recovery from a right wrist injury.Thiem skipped the Sunshine Double to participate in ATP Challenger events on clay, but his wrist issues resurfaced. He explained that he and his father had reverted to their old training methods, which aggravated the injury."We started to practice like I did when I was younger with a lot of intensity, a lot of strokes, a lot of hours on the court. Unfortunately, a little bit before the Challenger in Hungary, my wrist started to make some issues again," Thiem said.Despite the setback, Thiem remains optimistic about returning to ATP Tour action next week. He plans to compete in the Estoril Open, which begins on April 24th."Right now the situation is I've turned down the volume a little bit. Chances are good I can make it to Estoril," he said. "That's the plan as well. I want to start playing there again, which is my goal."Thiem's wrist injury has been a persistent problem since 2021. He has struggled to regain his previous form, which saw him reach the Top 3 and win the 2020 US Open.The Austrian is currently ranked No. 90 and has lost his first two tour-level matches of the year. He is hoping to use the Estoril Open as a platform to rebuild his confidence and return to his former heights.