Thomas Muster retires for one final time

The time wheel has rolled fast … Bye, Muster

Former French Open champion and decorated Austrian player Thomas Muster called it quits for the final time, in his home city Vienna. He was given 10 minutes of standing ovation by the crowd of around 7,500 spectators before and after his first-round match in the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.

Muster, 44 lost this match to his countryman Dominic Thiem 6-2, 6-3. Thiem was just 5 yrs old when Muster retired for the first time in 1999. Muster first played in the Vienna event in 1984 — nine years before his opponent Thiem was born — and reached the final three times but never won the title.

Muster was overwhelmed with emotions at the fact that he got a standing ovation not for winning a match or a tournament but, for the mere fact that he is bowing out. Muster also played this year’s French Open as a wild card where he retired semi-officially. He decided to bow down for good, before his adoring home crowd.

Following his first retirement in 1999, Muster made his return to competition in June 2010, playing a number of ATP Challenger Tour events in addition to his three ATP World Tour main draw appearances – twice in Vienna and earlier this year in Kitzbühel. But he managed just two wins in 26 matches — both on the lower-tier Challenger circuit.

All these appearances on the tour stemmed from Muster’s sheer love for the practice routine. He was gratified by the respect that he got from the other players on the tour. While this marks the end of play at the ATP-level for Muster, he will play at the Salzburg Challenger in November and might compete on the ATP Champions Tour in coming years. But, he feels that his family needs him more than the tennis world. He firmly knows that the level of play currently seen is something that he can’t achieve at the ripe old age of 44.

Muster compiled a 622-274 match record and won 44 titles over his prolific career, highlighted by the French Open title in 1995. He attained the World No. 1 ranking the following February and held it for 6 weeks.

At a time when the world tennis scene was dominated by the likes of Sampras, Agassi, Chang and Courier (all Americans), Muster plied his trade and returned more than decent results. This lefthander was a natural clay courter and it was only fitting that he pocketed the Roland Garros Slam at least once.

One thing is for sure. Muster will be missed and adored by the Austrian fans …