Tennis Champion Dominic Thiem Kicks Off New Career in Austrian Soccer

Dominic Thiem, the celebrated former champion of the US Open, is embarking on a surprising new sporting journey after retiring from professional tennis in 2024. The Austrian star is set to join Badner AC, a club competing in the eighth tier of Austrian soccer.

Thiem has officially been registered as a soccer player with the Austrian Football Association. Sergei Petrovic, the manager of Badner AC, noted that the club has received positive feedback regarding Thiem's potential abilities. Petrovic expressed hope for his contributions while emphasizing that the former tennis great would not receive preferential treatment, stating, “Everyone will have to compete for a place in the starting lineup.”

This move into soccer is not entirely new for Thiem. He recently participated in matches for his hometown team, Lichtenwörth, even scoring his first goals during a 10-game stint. Thiem's illustrious tennis career saw him win 17 titles, including his memorable 2020 US Open victory. He also reached multiple Grand Slam finals before a significant wrist injury in 2021 impacted his performance.

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Training has not started yet, so I cannot say much about the new signings. He has a friend at the club, and I hope he can perform well here. However, everyone will have to compete for a place in the starting lineup.