Alexander Zverev says he is losing one of his best friends on the Tour after Dominic Thiem confirmed he will be retiring at the end of this season.
In a video published on his social media channels, the Austrian said he was stepping away from the sport for a variety of reasons but one of the most significant concerns is his wrist. In 2021 Thiem suffered a tear in his right wrist which sidelined him from the Tour for nine months. Since returning, he has struggled to maintain his best form on a consistent level and is currently ranked 117th in the world. The last time he was in the top 50 was in April 2022.
“It is a very important, very sad, very beautiful message that this season will be my last one,” Thiem said.
“There are some reasons behind it: firstly, of course, my wrist. It is not exactly the way it should be and how I want it.
“The second reason is my inner feeling: I have been thinking about this decision for a very long time.”
Zverev has played Thiem 12 times on the Tour with their most memorable clash being in the final of the 2020 US Open when the German led by two sets before losing. The triumph made Thiem the first Austrian player in history to win the Grand Slam and the first male player born in the 1990s to capture a major title. He is also the only player to come back from a 0-2 deficit in a US Open final in the Open Era.
Reaching to the news of his rivals retirement in Rome, 27-year-old Zverev said he is sad that injury has played a major part in Theim’s decision. Comparing the wrist problem to a similar issue that his bother Mischa previously experienced.
“It’s strange, it’s a bit of my generation. It’s a real shame that he’s stopping because of an injury, and not because ‘He says I’ve played enough,” Zverev told German media after beating Aleksandar Vukic 6-0, 6-4.
“The main reason is of course the wrist injury, which he has been struggling with for years. My brother had exactly the same injury in 2014. The big difference is that my Brother had the injury operated on. He was out for nine months, everything took longer than without surgery. But then the wrist was stronger than ever before.”
Continuing his praise, Zverev highlighted one of Thiem’s biggest achievements in the sport outside of the US Open. That is his record against the Big Three who he has each beaten on five or more occasions. Something that only former world No.1 Andy Murray has ever managed to match.
“I’m losing one of my best friends on the tour. He’s one of the greatest Champions we have. He was one of the few to beat the top three.” He concluded.
Thiem is yet to speak about his schedule for the remainder of this year but he is reportedly considering ending his career in Vienna. He is set to release a vlog tomorrow (Saturday) which will provide more details about ‘his career and the past.’
So far in his career, Thiem has won 17 ATP titles, reached a ranking high of No.3 and won 348 Tour-level matches.