Messages of love and support from all over the world are flooding in as Dominic Thiem approaches the last day of his career. The tennis ‘Big Three’, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer, paid the Austrian a heartfelt tribute at the Lotterien Sporthilfe Gala in 2024.
Austrian football team captain and Real Madrid player David Alaba gave Thiem the Lifetime Achievement Award on Thursday at the Lotterien Sporthilfe Gala 2024. Videos from the “Big Three” that had been recorded beforehand were shown on the screens following Thiem’s acceptance of the award.
In addition to congratulating him, Nadal said how much he respected and admired Thiem and wished him luck in all of his future pursuits.
Nadal said: “Hey Domi, how are you doing I just want to congratulate you on this lifetime achievement award, very well deserved, very happy for you, you know how much I admire you, and respect you so I wish you all the best, enjoy tonight and see ya around.”
With the Erste Bank Open in Vienna scheduled to begin later in October 2024, Djokovic thanked Thiem for his contributions to the sport and expressed his excitement at the latter hanging up his racket on home soil, surrounded by family.
Djokovic said: “Thank you very much for all you have given to all of us, particularly tennis, I am glad that you will have an opportunity to say goodbye in Viena, one last dance, I wish you a great tournament, with all family members present and celebrate it, you deserve it my friend, all the best.”
The twenty-time Grand Slam champion Federer also said goodbye to the Austrian, but he spoke in German rather than English.
Federer said: “Tennis will miss you very, Very much.”
Dominic Thiem received a special message from Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, & Novak Djokovic ahead of his final tennis tournament
He received the ‘Lotterien Sporthilife Gala Lifetime Achievement Award’
The Big 3 have so much respect for him. 🥹
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 4, 2024
Dominic Thiem in 2024
LLLLLLWLWL Ranked world no.275, Thiem played his last match on the 26th of August when he surrendered to world no.16 Ben Shelton 6-4 6-2 6-2 in the 1st round of the U.S. Open (draw).
This year Thiem has managed to achieve a compiled 7-13 record.
He is also scheduled to play in Vienna (Erste Bank Open). The main draw will start on the 21st of October.
Rafael Nadal in 2024
Now ranked no.158, Rafael played his last match on the 29th of July when he surrendered to world no.4 Novak Djokovic 6-1 6-4 in the 2nd round in Paris (draw).
Currently, during this season the Spaniard owns a composed 12-7 record. Rafael Nadal’s best result of the year was getting to the final in Bastad.
Dominic Thiem and Rafael Nadal squared off 16 times. Their record is 10-6 for Nadal. Before, the last time they squared off, Rafael Nadal won 7-5 6-1 in the 1st round in Brisbane (Brisbane International) on the 2nd of January 2024.
You can see them in action in the following highlights.
Novak Djokovic in 2024
LWWWWWWLWW At the moment ranked no.4, the Serbian played his last match on the 14th of September when he beat world no.773 Ioannis Xilas 6-0 6-1 in the Rubber 2 of the Davis Cup (draw).
This season the Serbian has a 32-8 win-loss record. This year, Novak won 1 tournament in Paris. Novak was the finalist in Wimbledon.
