MOSCOW: Russian five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova has announced her retirement at the age of 32.
Sharapova broke the news in an article for the magazine Vanity Fair.“I’m new to this, so please forgive me. Tennis — I’m saying goodbye,” Sharapova said. “How do you leave behind the only life you’ve ever known?” she added.
She propelled to stardom when she won Wimbledon in 2004 aged 17. She would go on to complete a career Grand Slam with two titles at the French Open and one each at the US Open and Australian Open.
Sharapova has struggled with injuries and poor form since returning from a 15-month drug ban in 2017 after testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.
The former world number has played only two matches this year, losing in the first round of the Australian Open, with her ranking sliding to 373.
“Looking back now, I realise that tennis has been my mountain. My path has been filled with valleys and detours, but the views from its peak were incredible,” she said.
“After 28 years and five Grand Slam titles, though, I’m ready to scale another mountain, to compete on a different type of terrain.”
Since her suspension, Sharapova managed to reach only one major quarterfinal and lost four consecutive matches at Grand Slam tournaments.
Last month she was beaten 6-3, 6-4 by Donna Vekic at the Australian Open. Sharpova was asked after the defeat whether it might have been her last appearance and she repeatedly replied with “I don’t know.”
“I put in all the right work. There is no guarantee that even when you do all of those things, that you’re guaranteed victory in a first-round or in the third round or in the final.
“That’s the name of this game,” Sharapova said after what turned out to be her final match. “That’s why it’s so special to be a champion, even for one time.”
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