Retiring Thiem admits major career regrets

With his retirement only hours away as he calls it quits at this week’s home ATP 500 event in Vienna, Dominic Thiem has voiced regrets over his career.

The Austrian reached his high point with the 2020 US Open title, the edition played without crowds on the locked-down Flushing Meadows venue as the COVID pandemic deepened.

Wrist injuries which began in summer, 2021 persisted through to this season, with Thiem finally announcing that he will end his career this week.

But the 31-year-old now confesses to come regrets, believing that winning a major would change his life forever.

“Honestly, when I look back, I realise that I gave it too much importance,” the 31-year-old said. “I thought it would make me happy forever, that it would change my life – but that’s not how it is. It’s an illusion.”

Added the winner of 17 titles: “The truth is that nothing changed. And honestly, if in 20 years, I’m still here, no one will care if I was a Grand Slam champion or not.

“At that moment, I didn’t think that way. I thought that if I didn’t win a Grand Slam, my career wouldn’t be good, and I would always have doubts.

“It wasn’t an easy situation. It’s very nice to have that trophy at home, but in the end, it’s just a trophy; it shouldn’t make a difference in life. That’s how I see it now.”

Main photo:- Dominic Thiem won US Open 2020 during Covid lockdown – by USTA