Expert Antonitsch:

“Thiem was almost too good for the sport of tennis!”

"It hurts, but it's not quite over yet" - Alexander Antonitsch, himself one of the best Austrians in the history of tennis, has not been left unscathed by Dominic Thiem's retirement announcement! The 58-year-old finds it particularly unfortunate that Thiem, a universally popular athlete on the scene, is thinking of putting an end to his career, because: "Dominic Thiem was almost too good for tennis!" 

Specifically, Antonitsch stated on "Sport und Talk im Hangar 7" on "ServusTV" that he simply "doesn't know anyone who didn't like Thiem". The Lower Austrian had not only played his way into everyone's hearts with his tennis, but also with his manner.

Played his way into everyone's hearts!
For example, when he once used the "Hawk-Eye", i.e. the option of having a close decision controlled, against him in a duel with the Belgian David Goffin - simply because he didn't want to be awarded a point due to a wrong decision.

Or that he thanks the ball kids for the balls thrown to him - according to Antonitsch, anything but a matter of course with all the hustle and bustle surrounding matches on the ATP Tour ...

"... not even Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic!"
Most recently in Madrid, he witnessed how the spectators felt sorry for Thiem, how they wanted to see the Austrian, who was obviously no longer playing at his highest level, win after all. In the past, Thiem was spared any sympathy, "I never knew anyone who would have been happy to play against Thiem - not even Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic ..."

For Antonitsch, one thing is certain: "Dominic Thiem is one of the greatest athletes Austria has ever produced!"