Dominic Thiem concluded his US Open career with a memorable farewell, despite a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 first-round loss to No. 13 seed Ben Shelton on Monday.
Thiem, who won his only Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2020, had previously missed out on the crowd’s cheers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the tournament being played without fans.
Arthur Ashe Stadium was nearly empty during Thiem’s historic comeback victory over Alexander Zverev in 2020. The Austrian’s win marked the first time since 1949 that a player had won the US Open after losing the first two sets in the final. Thiem’s victory in the fifth-set tiebreaker was a significant moment in his career, though he missed experiencing it in front of a full audience.
Thiem, turning 31 next week, has been struggling with wrist injuries in recent years and had previously announced that this would be his final season. He was granted a wild card by the U.S. Tennis Association for the tournament, his 10th match of the season.
Thiem’s career, which saw him reach No. 3 in the ATP rankings and finish inside the top 10 for five consecutive seasons from 2019 to 2020, was impacted by a right wrist injury in June 2021. The injury hindered his performance and prevented him from regaining his previous form.
Ben Shelton, who advanced to the 2023 US Open semifinals, shared a cordial moment with Thiem at the net. Shelton encouraged the crowd to show appreciation for Thiem, saying, “I’m sorry that this was the way it ended, but congrats on everything. You have so much to be proud of.”
Thiem was presented with a framed collage of photos from his US Open career. He plans to play two more events before retiring, with his career set to end at the ATP stop in Vienna in October.
Thiem intends to stay involved in tennis through his academy in Austria. Reflecting on his retirement, Thiem expressed that he will miss the unparalleled sensation of winning a significant match, describing it as a unique high that is difficult to replicate outside of tennis.
