Dominic Thiem, one of Austria’s top tennis players, announced his retirement from tennis after years of battling injuries. This announcement sent shockwaves through fans and experts alike, especially considering Thiem was the 2020 US Open champion. However, his career was derailed by a serious wrist injury in 2021, which prevented him from returning to his peak form. Thiem’s decision marks the end of a remarkable chapter in tennis, while also sparking discussions about other talented players whose careers were similarly ruined by injuries.
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Thiem is not the only one in the tennis world to face such tragedy. There are several other players, once bright stars of the ATP Tour, who were forced to retire early due to irreparable injuries. Here are five other stars who could have achieved even more had their bodies not failed them.
Juan Martin Del Potro is perhaps one of the biggest “what if” stories of the 21st century in the ATP Tour. Standing at 6ft 6 with some of the most powerful strokes the sport has ever seen, the Argentine was a nightmare for any opponent. He won the 2009 US Open by defeating Roger Federer in a five-set thriller, ending Federer’s six-year winning streak at Flushing Meadows. However, just a year later, Del Potro suffered his first wrist injury, and it all went downhill from there. Despite once being ranked as high as world number three, he struggled with recurring injuries that kept him from reaching his full potential.
Kei Nishikori, the Japanese star, also saw his career hampered by injury. He was one of the most consistent players on the ATP Tour in the mid-to-late 2010s, reaching the quarterfinals of Grand Slam tournaments 10 times in five years and becoming a regular in the second week of the sport’s biggest events. At the 2014 US Open, Nishikori defeated both Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic en route to the final, where he lost to Marin Cilic. However, since then, injuries have plagued his career, especially a hip surgery in 2022 that sidelined him for over a year, followed by a leg injury that kept him out for another four months.
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Milos Raonic was considered one of the brightest prospects in tennis when he reached the 2016 Wimbledon final. With a powerful serve and entering his prime years, it seemed certain that Raonic would compete for more Grand Slam titles in the near future. However, a string of injuries, beginning in 2017, prevented him from capitalizing on his early success. By 2021, Raonic’s injuries had worsened to the point that he was forced to take an extended break from the game. While he made a comeback in 2023, finding his rhythm again has proven to be a challenge.
Robin Soderling, the man who famously defeated Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros and twice reached the French Open final, also faced a heartbreaking end to his career. His health deteriorated rapidly just two years after his legendary victory over Nadal when he was diagnosed with mononucleosis. Soderling later revealed he had been dealing with anxiety and panic attacks, which forced him to retire from professional tennis at the age of 26.
Lastly, Rafael Nadal, one of the living legends of tennis, has also been plagued by injuries throughout his career. Despite winning 22 Grand Slam titles, Nadal’s career has been punctuated by injuries to his knees, wrists, and back. His aggressive playing style made him more prone to injury, but Nadal has continually defied the odds, battling through countless physical setbacks to remain at the top of the sport. However, injuries in 2023 and 2024 have taken their toll, and Nadal has announced that he will retire after this year’s Davis Cup.
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With Dominic Thiem and other tennis stars forced to end their careers early due to injury, questions arise about the ATP Tour’s grueling schedule. Players are not only dealing with packed calendars but are also tempted by exhibition tournaments like the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, which offers massive prize money. While players prioritize Grand Slam and Masters 1000 events, they can’t be blamed for participating in such lucrative exhibitions. However, the human body can only withstand a certain amount of tennis, and with more and more exhibition events being added to the annual tour, the chances of top players meeting the same fate as Thiem continue to rise.
