Tennis

Dominic Thiem Retires from Tennis After Illustrious CareerDominic Thiem, the 2020 US Open champion and former world number three, bid farewell to professional tennis on Tuesday at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. The Austrian's final match ended in a 7-6 (6), 6-2 defeat to Luciano Darderi, but the occasion was marked by a heartfelt celebration of his remarkable career.Thiem's journey to the top of the tennis world began at a young age. Born in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, he showed exceptional talent from an early age. He turned professional in 2011 and quickly rose through the ranks, reaching the semifinals of the French Open in 2016 and 2017.In 2018, Thiem made his breakthrough by winning the Indian Wells Masters. He followed that up with a runner-up finish at the French Open, losing to Rafael Nadal in a thrilling five-set final. Thiem's consistency and resilience earned him the respect of his peers and fans alike.The pinnacle of Thiem's career came in 2020 when he triumphed at the US Open. In a tournament played without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Thiem defeated Alexander Zverev in five sets to claim his first Grand Slam title. The victory cemented his status as one of the best players in the world.However, injuries began to take their toll on Thiem in recent years. He struggled to maintain his peak form and slipped down the rankings. Despite his setbacks, Thiem remained determined to return to the top. He underwent surgery on his wrist in 2022 and worked tirelessly to regain his fitness.Thiem's retirement marks the end of an era in Austrian tennis. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in his country's history. His achievements on the court and his unwavering spirit have inspired countless young athletes.

Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominance at the Wuhan Open, securing a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Katerina Siniakova in the second round. The reigning US Open champion extended her undefeated streak in Wuhan to 13-0, having won the title in 2018 and 2019.Sabalenka's victory sets up a third-round clash with Yulia Putintseva, who defeated Donna Vekic. The Belarusian star needs only to reach the quarterfinals to reclaim the top spot in the rankings from Iga Swiatek.Meanwhile, six Americans competed in second-round matches on Wednesday. Coco Gauff cruised past Viktoriya Tomova, while Hailey Baptiste upset 10th-ranked Barbora Krejcikova. Magdalena Frech defeated eighth-ranked Emma Navarro, and Daria Kasatkina overcame Bernarda Pera. However, Amanda Anisimova withdrew from her match against Marta Kostyuk.In the men's draw, Jannik Sinner avenged his loss to Ben Shelton in last year's Shanghai Masters, defeating the American 6-4, 7-6 (1). Sinner will face Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals, who beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets.Second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz extended his winning streak to 12 with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Gael Monfils. The French Open and Wimbledon champion will play Tomas Machac or Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals.Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Taylor Fritz are among the other top players in action on Wednesday.

Coco Gauff's title defense at the Cincinnati Open came to an abrupt end in the second round, as she was upset by Yulia Putintseva in three sets, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. The defeat marks a disappointing setback for Gauff, who was hoping to build momentum heading into her US Open title defense.A year ago, Gauff made a breakthrough at the Cincinnati Open, defeating world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the semifinals and capturing her biggest title to date. That victory propelled her to even greater heights, as she went on to win the 2023 US Open.However, Gauff has struggled to find her form in the lead-up to this year's Cincinnati Open. She is now 1-2 across the North American hard-court swing, with her lone victory coming in Toronto over Wang Yafan.Putintseva, who had a 0-3 head-to-head record against Gauff going into their clash, played with determination and resilience. She broke Gauff's serve in the first set and held on to win 6-4. Gauff responded strongly in the second set, breaking Putintseva's serve twice to level the match.But Putintseva regained her composure in the third set, breaking Gauff's serve early and holding on to her own serve throughout the set. She eventually sealed the victory with a forehand winner, sending Gauff packing.Putintseva will now face Washington DC champion Paula Badosa in the round of 16. Badosa, who toppled No. 13 seed Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-2 earlier in the day, will be a tough opponent for Putintseva.Gauff's defeat is a reminder that even the best players can experience setbacks. She will now have to regroup and refocus her efforts on the US Open, where she will be aiming to defend her title.

Coco Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, has stormed into the second week of Wimbledon 2023 with an impressive 6-4, 6-0 victory over British qualifier Sonay Kartal. This marks Gauff's first appearance in the fourth round at the All England Club since 2021, after a disappointing first-round exit last year.Gauff, who made her major breakthrough at Wimbledon in 2019 as a 15-year-old, has been in scintillating form throughout the tournament. She has dropped just 10 games in her first three matches, showcasing her dominance on the grass courts.Kartal, making her Grand Slam main-draw debut, put up a valiant fight in the opening set, rallying from 4-2 down to level the contest. However, Gauff's superior experience and firepower proved too much for the British player. Gauff won the next two games to take the set and then reeled off the final eight games of the match, securing a comfortable victory in just over an hour.Gauff's next opponent will be fellow American Emma Navarro, who overcame a set deficit to defeat Diana Shnaider in three sets earlier on Friday. Navarro, the No. 19 seed, will pose a significant challenge to Gauff, but the No. 2 seed will be confident of continuing her impressive run at Wimbledon.Gauff's resurgence at Wimbledon is a testament to her consistency and determination. Since her 2023 Wimbledon defeat, she has been the most consistent woman at major tournaments, winning the US Open and reaching back-to-back semifinals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.As the world No. 2, Gauff is one of the favorites to win Wimbledon this year. Her powerful serve, aggressive groundstrokes, and exceptional court coverage make her a formidable opponent on any surface. If she can maintain her current form, she will be a serious threat to the title.

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.