Polish tennis star Radwańska hangs up racquet

The 29-year-old announced her retirement from professional tennis in a statement posted on Facebook.

“I’d like to share with you one of the most important decisions of my life,” she said. “Today, after 13 years of playing tennis competitively, I have decided to end my career.”

Radwańska added: “Unfortunately I am no longer able to train and play the way I used to, and recently my body can’t live up to my expectations. Taking into consideration my health and the heavy burdens of professional tennis, I have to concede that I’m not able to push my body to the limits required."

Radwańska said even though she was hanging up her racquet and quitting the pro tour, she was not leaving tennis.

"Tennis is and always has been special in my life. But now it’s time for new challenges, new ideas, equally as exciting as those on the tennis court, I hope."

She added: “Throughout my career, I always did my best to represent my country in the best possible way."

Radwańska in September pulled out of the China Open in Beijing, and her husband, Dawid Celt, was quoted as saying at the time that she would no longer compete this season.

The Polish player was eliminated from this year’s Wimbledon tennis championships in London in the second round and missed this season’s French Open tournament, her first Grand Slam absence since 2006.

Radwańska, a former world No. 2, as ranked by the Women’s Tennis Association, won 20 WTA singles titles during her career as a professional tennis player.

She reached the final of the Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament in 2012 and the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2014 and 2016. In 2015, she won the season-ending WTA Finals event.

(gs/pk)

Source: PAP