Jack Draper made a triumphant return from injury with a win over Kei Nishikori, while Dominic Thiem bid farewell to his tennis career on home soil at the Erste Bank Open. Draper, who had to retire during a quarter-final match in Tokyo last month due to an abdominal injury and then withdrew from the Shanghai Masters, secured a hard-fought victory of 7-6 (5) 7-5.
The British number one had to battle his way back from a 5-3 deficit in the first set to force a tie-break, where he initially trailed 3-1 but managed to come out on top. In a closely contested second set, Nishikori made errors on his serve, saving one match point before succumbing to Draper on the next point with a forehand error.
Next, Draper is set to face Italy’s Luciano Darderi, who defeated former world number three and 2020 US Open champion Thiem 7-6 (6) 6-2, bringing an end to Thiem’s professional journey. Thiem, who has faced multiple injuries since winning his lone Grand Slam title, led during the match but ultimately fell short against Darderi.
As a 17-time ATP Tour winner and a runner-up at both the French Open and Australian Open, Thiem expressed his gratitude to his fans, saying, “I’ve had so many nice goodbyes in the last few months, but today I want to say thank you for all the sensational years… The whole journey has been an absolute dream and I want this afternoon, this evening to be yours. I couldn’t have imagined it any better. Thank you.”
In other matches, Britain’s Cameron Norrie lost to America’s Frances Tiafoe with a score of 6-4 7-6 (4). The tennis world bids farewell to Thiem and applauds Draper’s victorious return on the court.
In conclusion, Jack Draper’s comeback win and Dominic Thiem’s emotional goodbye mark significant moments in the tennis world. Draper’s resilience in overcoming injury and Thiem’s heartfelt farewell serve as reminders of the ever-evolving nature of professional sports. The unexpected outcomes and emotional expressions in tennis further highlight the personal journeys and challenges faced by athletes in their careers.