Tributes pour in as Ana Ivanovic retires from professional tennis

Ana Ivanovic won the French Open in 2008

“I can only play if I can perform up to my own high standards, and I can no longer do that. So it’s time to move on.” ~ Ana Ivanovic

I still couldn't come to the term that Ana Ivanovic has finally retired. We've watched the talented Serbian played since she was only 18. By the time she was 20, Ivanovic reached her peak winning the French Open and becoming the world no. 1. She became the first Serbian woman to win a Grand Slam tournament, following in the footsteps of compatriot Novak Djokovic who clinched the Australian Open title the same year.

“There is no other way to say it. I have decided to retire from professional tennis. It has been a difficult decision but there is so much to celebrate,” Belgrade-born Ivanovic said on Facebook.

“I began dreaming about tennis when I was five. My dear parents backed me all the way and by the time I was the world number one and won Roland Garros in 2008, I have seen the heights I never dreamt of achieving,” she added.

To my dear supporters.... pic.twitter.com/9ycCamNela

— Ana Ivanovic (@AnaIvanovic) December 28, 2016

Here are some of the well wishes from her colleagues:

We will miss seeing your smile on the court! Fighter, professional, great person. Enjoy your post-tennis life, Ana 😘 pic.twitter.com/1FXcBl4C2Z

— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) December 28, 2016

@AnaIvanovic my goodness I will miss your smile. All my love ❤️❤️

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) December 28, 2016

Absolutely glorious career from @anaivanovic Sad to see retire...Good luck in your future… https://t.co/mfDJQC5yGf

— Janko Tipsarevic (@TipsarevicJanko) December 29, 2016

I will miss one of my best friends on tour @AnaIvanovic ❤️ You've had an incredible tennis career. Best wishes for the exciting new chapter! pic.twitter.com/IUlbkHHGVE

— Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) December 29, 2016

I will miss one of the kindest people I've met on tour. You had an amazing career, @AnaIvanovic! All the best for the new chapter! 😘😘

— Carla Suarez Navarro (@CarlaSuarezNava) December 29, 2016

Our friendship is a gift we share from the past, the present and the future. I will miss you dear Ana! pic.twitter.com/tt71nSO6wH

— Shuai Zhang (@zhangshuai121) December 29, 2016

@AnaIvanovic 😔👏😘❤️ pic.twitter.com/ORjdKK3z7P

— Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) December 29, 2016

Congrats on your career @AnaIvanovic good luck and have fun on what's coming next! We had some fun matches together 🎾😬 pic.twitter.com/95flZJ5whh

— victoria azarenka (@vika7) December 28, 2016

@AnaIvanovic wishing u the very best in your future Ana! You were truly one of THE NICEST PEOPLE EVER ON TOUR! Beautiful inside & out!!

— rennae stubbs (@rennaestubbs) December 29, 2016

Will miss you on tour, but excited for you and what your new chapter has to bring😘 see you soon!!😊😊 https://t.co/twK95j9Dnl

— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) December 28, 2016

@AnaIvanovic hey girl!!! You had an amazing career that many people can just dream about! I want you to wish you all the BEST 🎉🎊🍾💞❤️👼💞

— Dinara Safina (@Dinarik27) December 29, 2016

She always was able to smile on the court.Will miss you @AnaIvanovic!!Best of luck for the new chapters of your life with @BSchweinsteiger 💋 pic.twitter.com/1f3U8A53tr

— Marion bartoli (@bartoli_marion) December 29, 2016

We wish her all the best in her future endeavors and be happy always.

Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli announces retirement from tennis

Marion ‪‎Bartoli‬ shocked the tennis world by announcing her retirement from the sport at the age of 28. She just won a Wimbledon title weeks ago and has tweeted her anticipation for the US Open 15 hours before she made that tearful announcement!

After a second round loss to Romanian Simona Halep at the Western and Southern Open, Bartoli walked into the media room and said she just can't do it anymore.

"My body was really starting to fall apart and I was able to keep it together, go through the pain - with a lot of pain - throughout this Wimbledon and make it happen. That was probably the last little bit of something that was left inside me."

"I've been playing for a long, long, long time, and it's time for me now. It is."

The French player has won eight WTA titles in her career.

"Everyone will remember my Wimbledon title. No one will remember the last match I played here."

We wish her all the best. She'll be missed!

(Image via Quqster)

Roland Garros bids farewell to Arnaud Clement

 

Roland Garros bade farewell to 34-year-old Frenchman Arnaud Clement, who is set to retire at the end of the season.

The oldest player in the tournament, Clement lost 3-6, 7-6, 0-6, 6-2, 6-1 in his 15th appearance at the French Open to Belgian qualifier David Goffin in the second round.

A special ceremony was held after the match with the presence of the President of French Tennis Federation Jean Gachassin and former tennis player Guy Forget.

(Images via Yahoo! Tennis)

Kim Clijsters to quit after the US Open

Kim Clijsters announced that she will retire after the US Open in a news conference at the headquarters of her sponsors Galaxo in Paal, Belgium.

The Belgian said she felt Flushing Meadows, which is only 45 minutes from her house in the States, was a fitting place to end her career.

Clijsters, who is married to NBA basketball player Brian Lynch, initially retired in 2007 before the birth of her daughter Jada. But she returned in 2009 and went on to win the US Open that year.

(Image via ESPN)