And then, more tellingly, he ripped his wrist tendon while playing Adrian Mannarino in Mallorca. He opted against surgery, trying to build up his strength again gradually. But he never regained full confidence in the joint. Once his existing rankings points had fallen away, he would never find his way back into the world’s top 70.

The depleted late-career Thiem gave no hint of what a high-octane performer he had been at his peak. While his relentless forehand was probably his best shot, his most photogenic was a scorching single-handed backhand that evoked comparisons with Stan Wawrinka.

His three-set win over Novak Djokovic at the 2020 ATP Finals was a backhand masterclass. Thiem was regularly walloping the shot so hard that the ball was still rising when it hit the backboard, and yet he still kept finding the lines.

Monday’s 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 defeat was not quite Thiem’s final professional appearance, as he plans to play his home ATP event in Vienna in October. But it still felt like a last bow, especially when United States Tennis Association chairman Brian Hainline walked out onto the court to present him with a framed photo at the conclusion of the match.

A passionate Chelsea fan and an equally committed proponent of sustainable living, Thiem said that his post-playing life will be split between his coaching academy in Traiskirchen – one of Austria’s smallest cities – and a solar energy project.

He also acknowledged that his decision to leave the tour had improved his state of mind. “I’m happy,” said Thiem, an unassuming character who was always one of the most popular figures in the locker-room. “I was struggling enough the last years, especially since I was not able to come back to my [previous] level, but once I took the decision this year in March, from this moment on, I was happy about it.

“When the injury happened, the feeling, especially on the forehand, never came back like it was before. Of course, due to that, I was struggling also mentally a lot, because it was very difficult to accept.

“The basic reason why I’m here, now, retiring pretty young is still the bad luck with the wrist injury. But again, I’m really happy with the career I had before. I never expected that it’s gonna be that successful, so I don’t have really any regrets, and I’m good with that.”