Maria Sharapova announced her retirement from professional tennis on Wednesday morning. Sharapova broke the news by writing a piece for Vogue and Vanity Fair.
The 32-year-old took to social media shortly thereafter with an Instagram post.
“Tennis showed me the world–and it showed me what I was made of. It’s how I tested myself and how I measured my own growth. And so in whatever I might choose for my next chapter, my next mountain, I’ll still be pushing. I’ll still be climbing. I’ll still be growing. Tennis–I’m saying goodbye.”
Sharapova says goodbye following a 19-year career in which she captured five Grand Slam titles and reached No. 1 in the world four different times. The Russian triumphed at Wimbledon in 2004, at the U.S. Open in 2006, at the Australian Open in 2008, and at the French Open in 2012 and 2014.
“Throughout my career, Is it worth it? was never even a question — in the end, it always was,” she wrote for Vogue and Vanity Fair. “My mental fortitude has always been my strongest weapon. Even if my opponent was physically stronger, more confident — even just plain better — I could, and did, persevere.”
But there would no more persevering this time around following a whole host of injuries, a suspension, and a current ranking of No. 373 in the world. Instead of a brief retirement tour such as that of Caroline Wozniacki, who retired at last month’s Australian Open, Sharapova called it quits immediately.
“I don’t feel I need to go on the court for the entire world and every fan to know that this is my last time on the court,” she explained in an interview with the New York. Times. “Even when I was younger, it was not the way I wanted it to end.”
Sharapova played her last match at the Australian Open, losing to Donna Vekic 6-3, 6-4 in the first round.
legend
Nice you mention this. Sad to watch her play the last few years, the game looked to have passed her by, she struggled too, will always be one of my favs though, one of the toughest mental players ever.