Ivanovic bows out of tennis

Belgrade, Dec. 29: Former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic announced her retirement from tennis at the age of 29 on Wednesday because she no longer feels fit enough to compete at the highest level.

Ivanovic became the first Serbian woman to win a grand slam tournament when she beat Russian Dinara Safina in the 2008 French Open final, 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.

FACTFILE Born: Nov. 6, 1987 in Belgrade

Right-hander with a two-handed backhand who turned professional in 2003 and went on to win 15 WTA titles and become world number one in 2008.

Won the French Open in 2008, beating Russian Dinara Safina in the final for her only grand slam title.

She was also runnerup at Roland Garros in 2007 and the Australian Open in 2008.

Ivanovic, who married former Germany soccer captain Bastian Schweinsteiger in July, was ranked 63rd when she retired.

Her French Open victory catapulted Ivanovic to the summit of the rankings but she only occupied top spot for a few weeks and dropped to 22nd at the end of 2009. She returned to the top five in 2014 and reached the French Open semifinals in 2015, but slipped out of the leading 60 this year. — Reuters