Dominic Thiem withdraws from US Open with wrist injury

Dominic Thiem withdraws from US Open and will miss rest of the 2021 season due to a wrist injury as Austrian’s hopes of defending his title in New York are dashed

  • Dominic Thiem ruled out of remainder of 2021 season after wrist injury
  • Austrian won’t be able to defend his US Open title in New York slam this month
  • He suffered the injury while playing in the Mallorca Open back in June
  • Despite wearing a wrist splint, Thiem said the injury hasn’t fully healed 
  • Five-time US Open champion Roger Federer will miss event to have knee surgery

Defending champion Dominic Thiem has withdrawn from the US Open and will miss the rest of the 2021 season after failing to recover from a wrist injury in time.

It comes after five-time winner Roger Federer announced he will be out for ‘many months’ in order to undergo knee surgery.

Thiem, who defeated Alexander Zverev in a five-set classic at Flushing Meadows last year, suffered the wrist injury during the Mallorca Open in June.

Dominic Thiem will not defend his US Open title after suffering a wrist injury 

And in a statement, the Austrian said: ‘Unfortunately, I’ve had to withdraw from the US Open and will miss the rest of the 2021 season.

‘I’m really disappointed not to be able to defend the title in New York but I haven’t recovered from the wrist injury I suffered back in June at the Mallorca Open.

‘The past six weeks, I’ve been following the medical advice, wearing the wrist splint, doing exercise to stay in shape before starting to train back on court.

‘My recovery was going really well, but then last week I hit a ball during training and started to feel some pain again. I went straight to see the doctors.

‘After some tests, they said that my wrist needs more time, so we’ve all agreed on being conservative and to give my wrist some time to recover.

Thiem defeated Alexander Zverev in a five-set classic to win his first Slam title last year

He was playing at the Mallorca Open back in June when he suffered the wrist problem

‘I’ll wear the wrist splint for a couple more weeks before starting with exercises and then training with the racquet again.

‘It has been a tough decision to make but I know this is what I have to do. I have a long career ahead of me and it’s important not to take risks and rush back – which I hope you understand.’

It ends the 27-year-old’s hopes of adding another Slam title. Thiem has also been a Slam finalist three times – twice at the French Open and once at the Australian Open.

Federer, 40, is set for his third knee surgery inside two years and said he will be ‘out of the game for any months’. 

After his capitulation in the Wimbledon quarter final against Hubert Hurkacz it can only fuel fears that he will not be seen again on the sport’s biggest stages. 

Roger Federer has announced he will be out of tennis for ‘many months’ due to knee surgery

It only fuel fears that the 40-year-old will not be seen again on the sport’s biggest stages

Federer said: ‘It’s going to be difficult in some ways but, at the same time, I know it’s the right thing to do because I want to be healthy, I want to be running around later as well again.

‘I also want to give myself a glimmer of hope to return to the tour in some shape or form. I am realistic – I know how difficult it is at this age right now to do another surgery and try it.

‘But I want to be healthy. I will go through the rehab process with a goal, while I’m still active, which I think is going to help me during this long period of time.’ 




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