Luciano Darderi, Last Opponent to Defeat Dominic Thiem, Exits Vienna Open
Vienna, Austria – Luciano Darderi, the player who handed Dominic Thiem his final professional defeat, was eliminated from the first round of the 2025 Vienna Open today, marking an early exit for the 26th-ranked Italian.
Darderi lost in straight sets to American Brandon Nakashima, 6-2, 7-5, at the ATP 500 event. This loss comes after a successful 2025 season for the 23-year-old, which saw him secure three ATP titles in Cordoba, Marrakech, Bastad and Umag. The result is a setback for Darderi, who had previously defeated Nakashima on clay earlier this season in Hamburg.
The significance of this match lies in its connection to Thiem’s retirement; the Austrian tennis legend announced his departure from professional play in May 2024, with his final match taking place in Vienna later that year. Darderi defeated Thiem 7-6, 6-2 in that final appearance, a moment that signaled the end of an era for Austrian tennis. Fans will be keenly watching to see if a new Austrian star emerges to fill the void left by Thiem, as discussed in recent ATP Tour coverage.
Darderi’s 2025 Grand Slam season saw a first-round retirement at the Australian Open due to injury, followed by first-round losses at Roland Garros and respectable third-round appearances at both Wimbledon and the US Open, where he was defeated by eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz. Tournament officials have not yet commented on Darderi’s early exit, but the remaining players will continue competing for the Vienna Open title.
