Dominic Thiem, a once-promising tennis star who challenged the dominance of the Big Three, has announced his retirement from professional tennis. After a wrist injury derailed his career in 2021, Thiem struggled to regain his former form. Despite his efforts, he ultimately announced to end his playing days in May of this year, after playing at his home Vienna Open in October. While his retirement may be bittersweet, Thiem’s post-career plans are just as exciting as his tennis journey.

The US Open champion is scheduled to compete in Vienna on Tuesday, possibly for the final time. Ahead of it, he sat for an interview with a German publication, Heute, October 2nd. Thiem emphasized his commitment to sustainable electricity and making Austria greener. “My schedule will still be full,” started Thiem in his statements about his “near future”. “It’s about sustainable electricity. My goal is to make Austria greener.”

However, Thiem doesn’t want to turn his back to tennis: “Maybe I’ll play one or the other exhibition.” Moreover, the tennis academy his father, Wolfgang, manages is the most important thing to him. “For me, it’s a huge goal to increase the chances of young players going the way like me. My path was sensational – sporting and personal,” said Thiem.

As Dominic Thiem prepares for his final matches, he has been recognized with numerous awards, including the prestigious Lotterien Sporthilfe Gala 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Austrian football captain David Alaba on Thursday. However, the most heartwarming moment came when tennis legends Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic surprised Thiem with heartfelt tributes.

In a pre-recorded video, Nadal expressed his admiration for Thiem. “Hey Domi, congratulations on this lifetime achievement award. You deserve it, and I’m very happy for you. I admire and respect you so much. Enjoy the night and see you around,” said the Spanish star.

Djokovic also sent his best wishes: “I wish you a great tournament with your family and friends. You deserve it, my friend. All the best.” Federer, speaking in German, expressed his congratulations to Thiem and emphasized how much tennis would miss him. However, the Big 3 snubbed him in a different regard.

Dominic Thiem reveals how members of the ‘Big 3’ snubbed his invite for a dream farewell

Dominic Thiem, the Austrian tennis legend with 17 tournament victories and over $30 million in earnings, will be honored at a farewell party on October 20th at the Vienna Stadthalle’s “Super Sunday” event. As a tribute to his career, Thiem will recreate a set from the 2020 US Open final against Alexander Zverev, his opponent in that memorable match.