Dominic Thiem offers a frank assessment of his future, sees 2024 season as ‘the last chance’

Dominic Thiem, the 30-year-old former US Open champion, is at a crossroads in his tennis career.

Still grappling with the aftermath of a wrist injury, he reflects on his journey and envisions the 2024 season as a pivotal moment—the “last chance” to reclaim his position atop the ATP Tour. Dissatisfied with his recent rankings of 100 in 2022 and 98 in 2023, Thiem contemplates the worthiness of continuing if he ends this year similarly.

With a short-term goal of returning to the Top 50, Thiem makes strategic decisions, opting to skip the prestigious Sunshine Double in favor of ATP Challenger Tour events in Hungary, Croatia, and Italy. Despite his recent struggles, having lost in the early rounds of both the Brisbane International and the Australian Open, Thiem is determined to bounce back, acknowledging the mental strain of being in undesirable ranking spheres.

Amidst these challenges, Thiem also announces a coaching change, parting ways with Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh and revealing negotiations with a new coach. While ruling out a reunion with former coach Günter Bresnik, he keeps the identity of the new coach under wraps. Currently training with his father in preparation for the Davis Cup, Thiem sees this as an opportunity to qualify for the Paris Olympics, expressing optimism despite the sense of finality in his words.

As Thiem faces uncertainties and navigates critical decisions, he remains resilient in his pursuit of rediscovering the joy and form that define his tennis prowess. The 2024 season unfolds as a decisive chapter, where Thiem strives to defy the odds and reclaim his position among the elite in the tennis world.