Dominic Thiem’s tennis profession got here to an finish as he misplaced to Luciano Darderi within the first spherical of the Vienna Open.
Former world quantity three Thiem, who received the Vienna title in 2019, was crushed 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 by Italian Darderi.
Austria’s former US Open champion introduced final week that he would retire after his house event.
Following his defeat to world quantity 42 Darderi, the gang held up playing cards displaying the Austrian flag and the message ‘Danke Dominic’ (‘Thanks Dominic’).
Thiem, 31, gave an on-court speech earlier than putting his racquet in a glass case, to be auctioned to lift funds for charity.
A ceremony was additionally held in Vienna on Sunday, together with Thiem taking part in an exhibition set towards Alexander Zverev, the participant he beat to win the 2020 US Open.
Thiem received 17 titles at ATP Tour stage throughout his profession. He was a French Open finalist in 2018 and 2019 and runner-up on the Australian Open in 2020.
He additionally claimed necessary wins over all the ‘Massive Three’ – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Nevertheless, lower than a yr after his New York triumph, Thiem suffered a wrist harm that saved him off the tour for 10 months and resulted in his rating plummeting to exterior the highest 350.
Thiem returned to the highest 100 final yr however has been unable to search out his finest recreation and confirmed in May that this season could be his final.