Retired U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem returns to competition as eighth-division footballer

Dominic Thiem walked away from being one of the best tennis players in the world at 30 years old, but two years later, he’s on the path of a different sports dream.

Thiem peaked as the No. 3-ranked men’s tennis player in the world in 2020 but retired by the end of 2024 after wrist injuries caused a significant downturn in his form.

Now, at 32 years old, Thiem is trying to make a return to sports. However, instead of pursuing tennis or some other racket sport, Thiem set his eyes on soccer.

Dominic Thiem becomes a pro footballer after the end of his tennis career

Thiem has joined Badener AC, an amateur football club competing in Austria’s eighth division.

It doesn’t indicate a desire to climb to the top of professional football by the end of his 30s, but allows him to pursue a personal passion after reaching the heights he did in Tennis.

The 32-year-old Austrian has been actively playing soccer since retiring, representing his hometown club SC Lichtenwörth before Badener swooped in to sign him.

Club officials will reportedly treat Thiem as any other player on their squad and will not give special treatment to the man who was the best tennis player in Austria for years.

Thiem collected 348 ATP wins over his career and lifted 17 ATP trophies, with his U.S. Open win in 2020 being the biggest highlight of his career.

Thiem had the elite talent to call himself a rival of legends like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. His tennis career ended earlier than expected due to wrist issues, but his feet might allow him to enjoy a renaissance as an athlete.

Transferring to a new team in the lower levels of Austrian league football shows Thiem’s dedication towards competing, but the fruits of his football career likely won’t reach the heights of his tennis career.

Read more: