October 20th is set to be a thrilling day for tennis fans, as Austrian ATP star Dominic Thiem is preparing to bid farewell to the sport with a grand event at the Wiener Stadthalle, Austria’s largest event center.
This farewell celebration promises to be memorable, with Thiem even hoping for a special appearance from tennis legends Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, though he is still awaiting their response to his invitation. The prospect of these iconic players joining Thiem for his send-off is sure to heighten the excitement.
The event will feature a rematch of the 2020 US Open final, where Thiem secured his first Grand Slam title in a five-set match against Alexander Zverev. Additionally, fans can look forward to an entertaining one-shot cup and a tribute to Thiem. However, despite his illustrious career and head-to-head dominance over Federer (5-2), Thiem has yet to receive confirmation from the “Big Three” about their attendance.
In an interview with the German publication Heute, Thiem shared his hopes for their participation, stating, “I invited Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic to my farewell party. Nobody has contacted me yet.” While the attendance of these legends remains uncertain, the presence of several other famous figures has already been confirmed.
Football world champion Andre Schürrle, ski jumping stars Gregor Schlierenzauer and Stefan Kraft, tennis veteran Tommy Haas, and possibly NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki are all expected to be part of the celebration.
Thiem, who announced his retirement from the ATP circuit in May due to persistent wrist injuries, has faced significant challenges since his 2021 injury and has struggled to regain his top form. His farewell will be especially emotional, given the significance of the venue—Vienna, where he watched his first tennis match.
As he prepares to bring his career full circle, Thiem reflected on this, saying, “It was always clear that I would stop here. I am happy that things are now coming full circle. There will also be a sense of relief.”
Despite retiring, Thiem’s passion for tennis remains strong. He expressed his desire to play at a high level during the farewell event, saying, “I want to play at a decent level in Vienna.
That spark of ambition is still there.” He acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining his form without frequent play, which became evident after his recent performance in Kitzbühel.
As he moves toward his final professional match, Thiem admitted that his emotional journey is far from over, stating, “The last few months have been a rollercoaster ride,” and that he won’t fully be able to move on from tennis until later in the year.
With tennis fans and fellow athletes gearing up to honor his career, the possibility of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic joining the event adds an extra layer of anticipation to what will surely be an unforgettable farewell for Dominic Thiem.
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