Ana Ivanovic: Former world number one retires from tennis aged 29


                                 

Former world number one and 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic has retired from tennis at the age of 29.

Ana Ivanovic ends a 14-year tennis career eager to take on new challenges.

The Serb has been out with injury since August and dropped to 63 in the world WTA rankings, having won just 15 matches in 2016 - the most recent in June.

"I can only play if it is up to my own high standards. I can no longer do that so it is time to move on,
It has been a difficult decision but I have so much to celebrate," Ivanovic added.

I began dreaming about playing tennis when I was five and saw Monica Seles playing on TV.

"I have seen heights I never dreamt of achieving."


Ana Ivanovic shot out of the gate after turning pro in August of 2003, soaring through the rankings before winning her first WTA title in Canberra when she was just 16-years-old.

Ivanovic spent 12 weeks as world number one in 2008 and won 15 career singles titles.

She reached the French Open semi-final in 2015 and was runner-up at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 2007 and at the 2008 Australian Open.

Ivanovic, who married Manchester United midfielder German Bastian Schweinsteiger earlier this year, said she will explore opportunities in business, beauty and fashion in retirement and said it will allow her more time for her work with Unicef, with whom she holds the position of National Ambassador for Serbia.

Throughout it all, it was Ivanovic's thoughtfulness, poise, and grace - on and off the court - that will be remembered most, not just by her fans but also her colleagues and competitors. Tennis lost one of the most beautiful and sexy athlete, after the 29-year-old took to Facebook and called an end to her milestone career.

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