Dominic Thiem’s tennis career came to an end as he lost to Luciano Darderi in the first round of the Vienna Open.

Former world number three Thiem, who won the Vienna title in 2019, was beaten 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 by Italian Darderi.

Austria’s former US Open champion announced last week that he would retire after his home tournament.

Following his defeat to world number 42 Darderi, the crowd held up cards displaying the Austrian flag and the message ‘Danke Dominic’ (‘Thank you Dominic’).

Thiem, 31, gave an on-court speech before placing his racquet in a glass case, to be auctioned to raise funds for charity.

“I’ve had so many nice goodbyes in the last few months, but today I want to say thank you for all the sensational years,” said Thiem.

“I am only a part of this career. The whole journey has been an absolute dream. I couldn’t have imagined it any better.”

A ceremony was also held in Vienna on Sunday, including Thiem playing an exhibition set against Alexander Zverev, the player he beat to win the 2020 US Open.

Thiem won 17 titles at ATP Tour level during his career. He was a French Open finalist in 2018 and 2019 and runner-up at the Australian Open in 2020.

He also claimed important wins over all of the ‘Big Three’ – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

However, less than a year after his New York triumph, Thiem suffered a wrist injury that kept him off the tour for 10 months and resulted in his ranking plummeting to outside the top 350.

Thiem returned to the top 100 last year but has been unable to find his best game and confirmed in May that this season would be his last.

Ilia Topuria has big goals after UFC 308.

This Saturday, Topuria defends his UFC featherweight title against Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi. It’s one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year, and it’s Topuria’s first title defense, but for “El Matador” it’s more than that: it’s the next step on a road to immortality.

Speaking with UFC on TNT Sports ahead of this weekend’s big event, Topuria revealed that in the next three years — by the time he’s 30 years old — he plans on being a three-division world champion.

“Probably a three-weight world champion, this is my goal,” Topuria said. “You’re not going to see me in the welterweight division like this, skinny. You’re going to see me different. That’s the goal. Move up to the lightweight division, get that belt, then move up to the welterweight division.”

Thus far, nine different fights have titles in two UFC weight classes, with only five doing so simultaneously. Thus far no fighter has ever even challenged for a title in three UFC weight classes, though recently, former UFC middleweight champion and current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira teased the possibility of moving up to heavyweight to do so.

But first thing is first, Topuria has to settle his business with Holloway. The current “BMF” Champion has only lost to Alexander Volkanovski at featherweight over the past decade and presents a serious challenge to the young champion. But Topuria has his own challenge for Holloway come Saturday: to meet him in the middle, like Holloway has repeatedly done at the end of previous fights.

“If he stays in the middle the first 10 seconds of the fight, they’re going to see the most exciting 10 seconds in the UFC in MMA history,” Topuria promised. “It’s going to be fireworks. For sure I’m going to do that, and it’s going to be all up to him if he wants to stay with me or not.”

UFC 308 takes place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi this Saturday.

Resale tickets for the World Series opener between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium started at $1,358 on Monday evening on StubHub.

That’s an increase from opening prices on TickPick earlier Monday, where the cheapest tickets available came in at $999 and later increased to $1,085.

StubHub said sales outpaced last year’s final figures and are four times higher than the pace of the 2022 World Series Series. Sales for Games 3-5 in New York are 40% higher than for Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 in Los Angeles.

Vivid Seats, another resale outlet, said its average price of tickets sold for this year’s Series was $1,368, about double the $685 last year for the Texas Rangers–Arizona Diamondbacks matchup. Vivid said its resale price averaged $550 for the 2009 World Series between the Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies.

Vivid said the average price of tickets it sold Monday was $1,302 for Game 1 on Friday, $1,392 for Game 2 on Saturday, $1,443 for Game 3 at Yankee Stadium and $1,389 for Game 4 on Oct. 29. It did not disclose a figure of how many tickets it sold. As of Tuesday afternoon, the cheapest Game 3 ticket was standing room only at Yankee Stadium for $1,705.

For those unable to make it in person, Game 1 of the 2024 World Series will start at 8 p.m. ET Friday, and you can catch that and every game of the series on FOX and the FOX Sports App.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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ASTON VILLA striker Jhon Duran is reportedly attracting interest from some of Europe’s top clubs.

The 20-year-old has enjoyed a stellar campaign so far at Villa Park.

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In 11 appearances so far this season, Duran has scored six goals – one of which fired Villa to a huge Champions League win over Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

He is now one of the most sought-after young players in Europe.

According to AS Colombia, Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea are among FORTY clubs interested in signing the forward.

But he will not be allowed to leave Aston Villa for anything less than £75million.

Duran, who joined Unai Emery‘s side from Chicago Fire in January 2023, is under contract at Villa Park until June 2030 having penned a new deal earlier this month.

Villa striker Ollie Watkins has also been linked with a move to Arsenal in the past.

The Gunners are understood to be in the market for a new striker amid doubts surrounding the future of Gabriel Jesus.

They held a strong interest in RB Leipzig frontman Benjamin Sesko in the early stages of the summer transfer window.

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However, he instead signed a contract extension with the German side.

Alexander Isak, Dusan Vlahovic, Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres have also been linked.

Wales captain Elliott Kear, Ant Walker, Ashton Robinson and Connor Davies also went over in a dominant first-half display.

Moxon saw Mike Butt and Huw Worthington go over as the rout continued.

Serbia battled to the end, but were thwarted in attempts to get on the scoreboard and saw Joe Coope-Franklin cross with the game’s final play for a debut try.

Wales’ tally against Serbia is now 3-0 with an aggregate points score of 186-8 to Wales.

Before Wales won in his absence, boss Kear criticised the qualification process for the 2026 World Cup.

In a statement Wales RL said Batley Bulldogs head coach Moxon would continue to be in charge of the team for Saturday’s encounter.

“All at Wales Rugby League send their best wishes to John, and ask everyone to respect the privacy of him and his family so he can focus on making a full recovery,” added Wales RL.

Holloway is the only fighter in UFC history to win an interim, undisputed and BMF title.

Holloway can become the second two-time featherweight champion in UFC history. Jose Aldo accomplished the feat.

Holloway’s knockout at the 4:59 mark of Round 5 at UFC 300 is the latest stoppage in a UFC championship fight.

Holloway competes in his 27th UFC featherweight bout, tied with Darren Elkins for most appearances in divisional history.

Holloway’s 22 victories in UFC competition are tied for fourth-most in company history behind Jim Miller (26), Andrei Arlovski (23) and Donald Cerrone (23).

Holloway’s 20 victories in UFC featherweight competition are the most in divisional history.

Holloway’s 11 knockout victories in UFC competition are tied for third-most in company history behind Derrick Lewis (15) and Matt Brown (13).

Holloway’s 11 stoppage victories in UFC featherweight competition are the most in divisional history.

Holloway’s nine knockout victories in UFC featherweight competition are most in divisional history.

Holloway’s seven third-round stoppage victories in UFC competition are most in company history.

Holloway has landed 100 or more significant strikes in 16 separate UFC fights, the most in company history. No other fighter has more than 10 such performances.

Holloway has landed 200 or more significant strikes in three separate UFC fights, the most in company history.

Holloway has landed 3,378 significant strikes in UFC competition, the most in company history.

Holloway has landed 3,622 total strikes in UFC competition are most in company history.

Holloway is the only fighter in UFC history to complete 29 octagon appearances without suffering a knockdown.

Holloway has absorbed 2,223 significant strikes in UFC competition, the most in company history.

Holloway landed 445 significant strikes against Calvin Kattar at UFC on ABC 1, the single-fight UFC record. His 744 significant strike attempts in that bout are also a single-fight record.

Holloway landed 447 total strikes at UFC on ABC 1, the single-fight UFC record. The previous high was 361. His 746 total strike attempts are also a single-fight record.

Holloway landed 141 significant strikes in Round 4 at UFC on ABC 1, the single-round UFC record.

Holloway’s 10 fight-night bonuses for UFC featherweight bouts are tied with Cub Swanson for most in divisional history.

Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev