via Getty
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Dominic Thiem of Austria reacts in the third set during his Men’s Singles final match against and Alexander Zverev of Germany on Day Fourteen of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
via Getty
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Dominic Thiem of Austria reacts in the third set during his Men’s Singles final match against and Alexander Zverev of Germany on Day Fourteen of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
With the US Open 2021 less than two weeks away, the men’s singles category saw its biggest withdrawal from the tournament. Defending champion Dominic Thiem, who suffered a wrist injury earlier this year, will not take part in the hard court Grand Slam. In fact, the Austrian will not take part in the rest of the 2021 season.
Thiem’s withdrawal confirms a new champion will be crowned in Flushing Meadows this year.
Dominic Thiem ruled out for the 2021 season due to a wrist injury
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The World No. 6 has struggled for a major part of the ongoing season. While he lost in the fourth round of the Australian Open, he suffered a shock first round exit in the French Open despite his excellent form on clay courts.
During the Mallorca Championships, Thiem suffered a wrist injury during his opening match with Adrian Mannarino. The injury forced him to withdraw from the subsequent Wimbledon Championships and Tokyo Olympics.
A few days ago, Thiem gave a positive update he would make it to Flushing Meadows. However, he revealed his recovery took a turn for the worse during a training session, when a ball hit him. After seeing the doctors again, he confirmed his absence not just from the US Open, but the rest of the 2021 season.
— Dominic Thiem (@ThiemDomi) August 18, 2021
Addressing social media, Thiem mentioned test results made him choose caution over participation. He wrote, “After some tests, they said that my wrist needs more time, so we’ve all agreed on being conservative and to give my wrist some time to recover.
“I’ll wear the wrist splint for a couple more weeks before starting the exercises and then training with the racquet again.”
WATCH THIS STORY: How Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and Others Travel.
Thiem: It has been a tough decision
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The 27-year-old thanked his fans for their support, while hoping that they would understand the need for him to exercise caution.
via Getty
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Dominic Thiem of Austria reacts in the second set during his Men’s Singles final match against and Alexander Zverev of Germany on Day Fourteen of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
“It has been a tough decision but I know this is what I have to do,” wrote Thiem. “I have a long career ahead of me and it’s important not to take risks and rush back – which I hope you understand.”
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Thiem joins Roger Federer on the sidelines for the final Grand Slam of the year. While his withdrawal means the US Open will see a new champion, he looks most likely to fall out of the Top 10 by the end of the year.
READ MORE: Breaking Popular Myths About Dominic Thiem and His Rigorous Training Regime
