Following his retirement from professional tennis in October, Dominic Thiem is finally receiving recognition for his kind and fair personality. After 13 years on the tour, the Austrian player is gaining credit for his contributions to the sport, even if they don’t include multiple titles or Grand Slams. Thiem’s real impact comes from his dedication to sustainability initiatives aimed at protecting the planet. These efforts are rewarding him in ways he never anticipated.

Thiem would receive the 2024 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award, an honor shared by many legends of the sport. However, while thrilled by the recognition, Thiem couldn’t help but wonder why he was chosen for such a prestigious accolade.

In a chat with ATP Tour, he reflected, “When I was told that I would be the recipient of the 2024 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award, I looked at the list of champions who had been honored before me: Arthur Ashe, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic.” While these legends share impressive Grand Slam tallies, they are united by their significant contributions to humanity—the essence of this award.

The Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, presented by ESPN, honors individuals who embody the spirit of Arthur Ashe, the first Black man to win singles titles at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and the Australian Open before his death from AIDS-related pneumonia in 1993. This award recognizes recipients not only for their athletic achievements but also for their bravery and commitment to making a positive impact in the world.

Thiem’s heart is full of gratitude for receiving this honor. He stated, “They’ve all done incredible things and created really meaningful projects for the good of many people around the world. I’m super proud that my name can be mentioned next to theirs.” His initiatives include Thiem Energy for community solar solutions, a partnership with OMV for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), sustainable sunglasses through Thiem View, and ocean conservation efforts with SeaLegacy.

While Thiem’s dedication to environmental causes is commendable, he joins an esteemed group of past recipients like Agassi, Nadal, and Federer, who have made significant humanitarian contributions to education and health advocacy. On the other hand, though his quest for another Grand Slam ended abruptly, Thiem is not disheartened. He knew it was time to hang up his racquet and geared up for a new chapter beyond the court.

Thiem gets real about his Grand Slam journey

Does winning a Grand Slam truly signify the pinnacle of achievement in tennis or life? Perhaps to some, but to Dominic Thiem, it’s a different story. Following his emotional retirement last month, he reflected on this notion, stating, “I thought winning a Grand Slam would change my life forever. It didn’t.” During an interview with Tennis Majors on October 18th. He echoed this sentiment in a conversation with writer Simon Mundie, as revealed by journalist Ben Rothenberg in the November 7th episode of the No Challenges Remaining podcast. “I was living way too much in this illusion, like if I get this, I’m going to be happy if I win this title. Playing tennis, playing on the tour will be easier forever. Yeah, exactly, that happened.,” he admitted.

Thiem clinched his first and only Grand Slam title at the 2020 US Open, defeating Alexander Zverev in a thrilling five-set match. This victory marked a historic comeback, as he became the first man to win a US Open final after being two sets down in the Open Era. However, the joy he anticipated from this triumph was fleeting. “All of my ecstasy stopped after the finals,” he recalled. “When I went for holidays, when I came to relax a bit, then all the high was gone. And then there came a really difficult period, because then, I mean, all those emotions, all those high activities in my head, they were just gone.”

Just four days before his retirement at 31 years old, Thiem lost to Luciano Darderi at the Vienna Open on October 22nd. In his final moments on court, he shared his evolving perspective on success: “Back then, I was not thinking like that. I really thought: ‘OK, if I’m not going to win a slam in my career, my career is not great.’ Of course, it’s nice to have the title… but in the end it’s still only a trophy.” Now that Thiem has officially retired, how do you think he will navigate this next chapter of his life? Share your thoughts in the comments below!