Dominic Thiem’s career officially ends with a straight loss at Vienna against Luciano Darderi
Luciano Darderi had no time for sentimental attachments against Dominic Thiem in the Vienna opening round.
Follow Us
Dominic Thiem (Image via X)
Luciano Darderi showed no room for sentiment on Tuesday (October 22) at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. The Italian player secured a 7-6(6), 6-2 win against Dominic Thiem in the final match of the Austrian’s career. Despite the energetic and hostile atmosphere at the Wiener Stadthalle, Darderi remained calm, winning the first set in a tiebreak before cruising to a 91-minute victory.
Thiem, a former World No. 3 and 17-time tour-level champion, gave his home crowd some moments of brilliance, including powerful backhand winners. However, Darderi ranked No. 42 in the ATP rankings, kept his focus and deservedly won the match in his Vienna debut.
After sealing his victory with a forehand winner, Darderi was congratulated at the net by Thiem. The Austrian then received a warm ovation from the crowd and gave a brief speech to thank them for their support. Thiem had led 4-2 in the first set of his first-ever match against Darderi, but the 22-year-old Italian responded well and converted three of his five break points.
Darderi came to Vienna after seven straight losses, but this win boosts his confidence ahead of his second-round match against either Jack Draper or Kei Nishikori. The Cordoba champion, who had only one tour-level win before 2024, now holds a 24-23 record for the season.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz pay tribute to Dominic Thiem
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, currently the top two players in the world, shared an emotional tribute to the retiring Dominic Thiem last week. The Austrian announced his retirement in May, stating that Vienna would be his final ATP event.
I never played against Dominic in an official match, but as a human and a person, he has been amazing. It doesn’t matter what ranking I was or how young I was, he always said hi, and we had conversations… I still hope to see him around at some tournaments. He always brings a super positive energy in the locker room and the dining areas. I think all players will miss him.
Jannik Sinner told ATP Tour
Sinner and Alcaraz never had the chance to play against the former World No. 3, but they expressed a desire to, given Thiem’s reputation. Many believe that Thiem, at his peak, could have formed a new Big 3 with Sinner and Alcaraz following the decline of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
My little brother used to play tennis, and he was a huge fan of Dominic Thiem. He played with Thiem’s racquet, not mine! So he was always watching Dominic’s matches, and I heard often from my brother: ‘I want to play like Dominic Thiem. I want to play like him, with the same racquet and the same style.’ In my family, we have a really high estimation of Dominic.
Carlos Alcaraz told ATP Tour
Sinner and Alcaraz continue to set the standard on the ATP Tour. In 2024, they have collectively won all four Grand Slams and four Masters 1000 titles. However, unlike Djokovic’s rivalry with Federer and Nadal, Sinner and Alcaraz have yet to face a consistent third challenger.
Some believe Holger Rune could be that “third guy,” but so far, he hasn’t matched Sinner and Alcaraz’s level. Rune’s most notable victory came at the 2022 BNP Paribas Masters, where he defeated Djokovic in the final.
Stay Updated!
Fahad Hamid
(624 Articles Published)