Austrian tennis star Dominic Thiem had a bitter farewell to one of his favorite tournaments in Kitzbühel, but was duly celebrated for his career.
Dominic Thiem had a painful farewell to one of his favorite tournaments on Tuesday evening. The 30-year-old Austrian, playing his last clay-court match in Kammstadt, clearly lost 2:6, 4:6 to Argentina’s Diego Agustin Trande after 73 minutes in front of a sold-out stadium. For the 2019 Kitz winner from Lichtenwörth, the show he wanted to repeat for the 5,800 fans didn’t happen.
Trande reached the ATP semifinals for the first time in Båstad last week, defeating world number eight Andrej Rublev of Russia. He was only eliminated against eventual winner Nuno Borges, who canceled his Kitzbühel debut at short notice after his final win over Rafael Nadal. Thiem posed no threat to the well-placed South American (ATP 101st) in the first and probably last meeting.
Set one up – easy prey for Trande
In the opening game, the former world number three dropped her serve on the first break point and trailed from the start. The score was 0:4 and after 20 minutes Thiem won the first game. After 28 minutes, set up an (easy) prey for Trande. “It hurts to watch him,” former player and TV pundit Barbara Shedd said on ServusTV after the first round.
In the second set, Thiem made progress and was able to hold Trande to 4:4. After almost 70 minutes, Thiem converted his serve to 4:5, sealing his exit. Trande served for a clear two-set win.
Despite the stadium being full, the match was one-sided and lacked great atmosphere. It was even louder when the 17-time ATP tournament winner entered and after match point.
Thiem was honored for “a lifetime’s work in Kitzbühel”.
After the game, tournament organizers paid tribute to Thiem’s ”life’s work in Kitzbühel”. In front of his parents, brother Moritz and girlfriend Lily Paul-Roncalli, his best moments were first shown in video footage, after which he received a prestigious, newly designed Kitzbühel chamois encrusted with diamonds and Swarovski stones.
Thiem, as he says, “isn’t the type to cry,” was emotional at least in Kitzbühel during the on-pitch ceremony and in interviews after the game. “I had an image running through my head. All the memories of my performance here in Kitzbühel came flooding back. This tournament will always hold a special place in my heart,” said the winner of the 2019 tournament.
Thiem found out on Tuesday that Andy Murray is now competing in the Olympics, so his last chance to start under the sign of the five rings is gone. Thiem is now hoping for a wild card into the US Open. In 2020 he celebrated his biggest success with a major title. Thiem will make his final farewell at the second home match at Wiener Stadthall in October.
After his retirement announcement on May 10, Thiem celebrated his only victory at the French Open in the first qualifying round. Also in Mallorca, there were first round defeats in Gstaad last week and now Gamsstadt. (APA)
