New Delhi: Dominic Thiem may have retired from professional tennis but he is not done with competitive sport. Less than two years after ending his career on the ATP Tour, the former US Open champion has taken up football and signed for Austrian amateur side Badener AC.
The 32-year-old will now play in Austria’s eighth division, swapping the world’s biggest tennis courts for local football grounds. It is a different challenge, but one that allows him to stay active while enjoying the sport he has loved for years.
Thiem brought the curtain down on his tennis career at the end of the 2024 season after struggling to return to his best following a serious wrist injury in 2021. The injury changed the course of his career after he had reached the top level of the game, including winning the 2020 US Open title.
A fresh start after tennis
After his first-round defeat to Ben Shelton at the 2024 US Open, Thiem explained why he was comfortable with his decision to retire.
“I was struggling enough the last years, especially since I was not able to come back to my level, but once I took the decision this year in March, I was happy about it,” Thiem said. “I loved playing on tour, but I also always really enjoyed being home and having kind of a normal life. The basic reason why I’m retiring pretty young is the bad luck with the wrist injury, but I don’t really have any regrets.”
His love for football is not new. Following his retirement, Thiem made 10 appearances for his hometown club SC Lichtenwörth and scored once before deciding to join Badener AC through a mutual friend.
No special treatment at Badener AC
Despite being one of Austria’s most successful tennis players, Thiem will have to earn his place in the team. Badener AC officials have made it clear that every player will compete equally for a spot in the starting line-up.
Speaking to local newspaper *NN*, club representative Petrovic said: “Since training hasn’t started yet, I can’t say much about the new signings. We’ve heard he’s also a good footballer.” He added, “He has a friend at the club, and I expect he’ll actually play here.”
Thiem’s final professional tennis match came at the Vienna Open on 22 October 2024 where he lost in straight sets to Italy’s Luciano Darderi. Although his tennis journey ended with defeat, his competitive spirit clearly has not. Football now offers him a new way to enjoy sport without the pressure of life on the professional tour.