Thiem prepares for his retirement: “Tennis is one of the loneliest sports out there”
The Austrian talked about his imminent ‘goodbye’ to tennis at the Vienna tournament and also about his future plans related to the environment.
The final tournament of Dominic Thiem‘s career is approaching, and the Austrian is already preparing to say goodbye to the sport of his life. It won’t be easy, but Thiem also doesn’t want to dramatize more than necessary, as he has already accepted that it was his time. His final hits will be at the ATP Vienna, which will take place between October 21 and 27. What better place to do it than at home, surrounded by his people. Thus, Thiem will celebrate on the 20th of this month a farewell party to which he invited Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic, although he has not received any confirmation yet.
We don’t know if the ‘Big 3’ will play any role in his farewell to tennis, but the Austrian can be proud of his small part in this great rivalry that this sport has given us. However, despite the US Open 2020 winner enjoying great moments, he admitted recently that he no longer felt emotionally connected to the typical life of a professional athlete. “The last few months have been a roller coaster,” he said to the publication Heute.
However, Thiem has been preparing diligently for several days now to deliver a good performance in the Vienna tournament and bid farewell on a positive note. “I want to play at a decent level in Vienna. My problem is that my level drops quickly if I don’t play much. I realized this after Kitzbühel,” acknowledged a player whose injuries have marked this abrupt end. At 31 years old, he is still young to contemplate his future, with many possibilities ahead.
Initially, Thiem wants to relieve himself somewhat of his responsibilities, although his goal will be to focus on ecology and convey a ‘green’ message to the world, contributing to environmental care: “I want to do fewer things. I want to simplify my life, give something back to the planet.” He is even considering switching to vegetarianism. “I have to see how my body reacts,” he mentioned. Regarding that lifestyle, Dominic made it clear that he wants to make an impact in his country and develop his project: ‘Thiem-Energy’, focused on 100% renewable energy: “My schedule will continue full. Thiem Energy is about sustainable electricity; my goal is for Austria to be greener.”
Despite his commitment to the environment, Thiem is likely to not stray far from tennis, as “he may play one or two exhibitions,” besides promoting the tennis academy that his father owns. “For me, a great goal is to increase the chances for young players to follow the path I traveled. My journey has been sensational, both in sports and personally,” he proudly stated. However, Thiem almost rules out becoming a coach in the future: “I’ve traveled enough, but I believe I can contribute from my base in Austria. Tennis is one of the loneliest sports out there.”
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