© Getty Photos Sport – Julian Finney
Dominic Thiem acquired some fairly harsh criticism and insults after shedding to a participant ranked outdoors the top-200 on the Zadar Challenger because the Austrian’s greatest critics used his newest loss to reiterate their claims that it is time for him to stroll away from professional tennis.
Thiem, a former world No, 3, entered this week’s Zadar Challenger, the place he was the No. 1 seed. In his opener, Thiem clinched a really notable win as he defeated 2017 Paris Masters finalist Filip Krajinovic 6-2 7-6 (4).
However after beginning with a win over former world No. 26 Krajinovic, Thiem suffered a shock loss to fellow Austrian Lukas Neumayer because the world No. 219 destroyed the 2020 US Open champion 6-2 6-1 within the Zadar round-of-16.
For Thiem, who’s now ranked at No. 90 on the earth, it was his second consecutive loss in opposition to a participant ranked outdoors the top-200. Final week, Thiem disappointingly exited the Szekesfehervar Challenger within the first spherical after world No. 302 Daniel Michalski handed him a 6-3 6-4 loss.
This season, 30-year-old Thiem is simply 1-2 on the primary degree and he has the identical file on the Challenger degree.
The heavy insults that Thiem acquired on Instagram
“LOSER time to RETIRE,” one particular person wrote.
One other critic wrote an in depth rationalization to Thiem why he believes it is time for the Austrian to retire: “What are you ready for Domi, you might be embarrassing your self and crew. Possibly with this consequence you simply let it go, it is over, you will not obtain the rest. Your mentality and your tennis is not there and will not come again. Figuring out when to retire is essential too, you might be only a shade on court docket.”
One advised that Thiem’s latest Challenger losses point out that he’s “misplaced.” “You get destroyed in a Challenger, how can we consider you once more….. Really feel such as you simply misplaced your self.”
One other heckler issued some harsh phrases on Thiem, calling him “a clown” and expressing shock at the truth that the Austrian is a Grand Slam champion.
Dominic Thiem is being bombarded with damaging, disgusting feedback after his loss in Zadar.
Unhappy to see him being handled like this.
No respect for what he’s achieved, not to mention for what a superb particular person he’s. pic.twitter.com/OMqM3KI9BF
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 21, 2024
Thiem has been coping with this for fairly a while
Simply a few months after carrying out his dream of changing into a Grand Slam champion at Flushing Meadows in 2020, Thiem suffered a wrist harm initially of the grass season in 2021 June. Initially, it was believed to be one thing minor that might not sideline the Austrian for greater than two months.
However Thiem’s wrist wasn’t recovering as anticipated and the Austrian ended up lacking much more earlier than returning to tennis in 2022 March. Since returning to tennis two years in the past, the 30-year-old Austrian has been attempting to return to his outdated kind nevertheless it simply is not occurring.
Whereas Thiem has been giving his greatest to rediscover his recreation that was as soon as making him top-of-the-line within the recreation, some critics have been attempting to persuade him for a while that it’s too late for him to rediscover his outdated kind and that he ought to merely retire.
How Thiem misplaced to Neumayer in Zadar and what’s subsequent for him?
Though Thiem entered the match as the favourite, it went incorrect for the previous world No. 3 proper from the beginning as he obtained damaged within the second recreation and located himself down 0-3 by means of the opening three video games.
After a really gradual begin, Thiem lastly began exhibiting indicators of life as he served out the fourth recreation to get on the board after which additionally had an incredible likelihood to get the break again within the fifth recreation – however he missed out on 4 break factors as Neumayer managed to open a 4-1 lead.
Thiem paid the value for failing to get the break when he had an opportunity as within the eighth recreation – when he was serving to remain within the match – he obtained damaged for the second time within the first set as Neumayer gained the opener with a 6-2 scoreline.
After shedding the primary set, Thiem additionally obtained off to a tough begin to the second set, shedding his serve within the second recreation. Down by a set and 0-2 within the second set, the 2020 US Open champion had an opportunity to the early break again however did not convert any of his three break factors within the third recreation as Neumayer went 3-0 up.
After failing to get the break again, Thiem dropped his serve as soon as once more within the fourth recreation as Neumayer gained that recreation and in addition served out the fifth recreation for a 5-0 second-set lead.
Within the sixth recreation, Thiem lastly managed to carry on to one among his service video games and finish Neumayer’s run of seven consecutive video games gained. However it was too late for Thiem as Neumayer served out for a routine 6-2 6-1 win within the following recreation.
Subsequent week, Thiem is competing on the Naples Challenger, the place he’ll attempt to neglect to bounce again and neglect his disappointing Zadar run.