• Ivanovic won French Open in 2008 and was world No1 for nine weeks • Current world No63 admitted to being ‘hampered by injuries’ in recent years

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Ana Ivanovic, the former world No1 and 2008 French Open champion, has retired from tennis at the age of 29, the Serb confirmed on Wednesday.

“There is no other way to say this. I have decided to retire from professional tennis. It was a difficult decision but there is so much to celebrate,” Ivanovic said on her Facebook page. “Don’t be sad, be optimistic alongside me. My love and my greatest thank you to all of you.”

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Ivanovic announced her retirement from tennis in a video, saying she no longer feels fit enough to compete at the highest level.

“I played so many memorable matches. But staying at those heights in any professional sport requires top physical form and it’s well-known that I have been hampered by injuries,” Ivanovic said.

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

Ivanovic became the first Serbian woman to win a grand slam tournament when she beat Russia’s Dinara Safina in the 2008 French Open final, following in the footsteps of her compatriot Novak Djokovic, who clinched the Australian Open title the same year.

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“I began dreaming about tennis when I was five,” Ivanovic said in the video. “My dear parents backed me all the way and by the time I was the world No1 and won Roland Garros in 2008, I have seen the heights I never dreamt of achieving,” she added.

Her French Open victory catapulted Ivanovic to the summit of the WTA world rankings but she occupied top spot for a only nine weeks and dropped to 22nd at the end of 2009 after a dramatic loss of form.

Ivanovic returned to the top five in 2014, reaching the French Open semi-finals in 2015 to spark hopes of a revival, but slipped to 63rd this year after losing to the Czech player Denisa Allertova in the US Open first round, her final match on the WTA tour.

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“I am so excited about what comes next. I will become an ambassador of sport and healthy life and will also explore opportunities in business, beauty and fashion, among other endeavours,” Ivanovic added.

“Beyond that, who knows. All I can say is that I have lived my dreams and really hope to have helped others do so as well.”</s>LONDON (AP) — Former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic announces retirement from tennis.</s>Ana Ivanovic is a former world No. 1 on the WTA Tour. At just 29-years-old, the tennis player announced her retirement.

Ana Ivanovic is a former world No. 1.

She reached the top ranking in tennis in 2008 when she won the French Open.

The decision to retire appears to be one that took much deliberation. The Serbian tennis player said that, “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.”

Ana Ivanovic represents an era of tennis where Serbian players have had an immense impact on the sport. Novak Djokovic is the superstar men’s singles tennis player. He is on track to become one of the greatest the sport has ever seen.

Ivanovic and fellow Serbian Jelena Jankovic both reached world No. 1 on the WTA Tour in 2008. Players across the sport shared their congratulatory messages to Ivanovic for a stellar career. The Serbian tennis player stated that, “I have seen heights I never dreamt of achieving.”

Read Ana Ivanovic’s full statement about her retirement here.

The sport will miss her on the court.

2017 kicks off with German tennis player Angelique Kerber at No. 1 and Serena Williams trailing close behind. Women’s tennis is gearing up for a fantastic season. Ivanovic’s absence will make way for the younger generations to play an even bigger role than they have in previous seasons.

Check back for updates on the men’s ATP World Tour, the women’s WTA Tour, and other tennis news from Lob and Smash.</s>Former No. 1-ranked tennis player Ana Ivanovic announced her retirement today on Twitter.

The 29-year-old Serbian wrote that choosing to retire was “a tough decision, but there’s much to celebrate.” Ivanovic began her professional career when she was 16 years old, winning her first and only Grand Slam title at the 2008 French Open; she reached the finals of the Australian Open that same year. Ivanovic battled several injuries during her career, which she acknowledged in her Twitter post.

Ivanovic said she was inspired to take up tennis when she was 5 years old, after watching former player Monica Seles, and that the career highs she experienced while ranked at No. 1 in 2008 demanded being in top shape.

Ivanovic wrote: “For myself, for my fans and for all the young girls and boys who might be watching me, just as I watched Monica, I can only play if I can perform up to my own high standards, and I can no longer do that. It is time to move on.”

In her post, she thanked her family, friends, management, supporters and sponsors, which has included Adidas since 2006. Ivanovic signed a lifetime contract with the German athletic brand and will reportedly continue to be a brand ambassador in retirement.

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Serena Williams on Why Fashion Is Important in Tennis</s>Former world number one Ana Ivanovic has retired from professional tennis, aged 29.

The Serbian, who won the French Open in 2008, has struggled with injury problems in 2016, winning only 15 matches, and did not play on the WTA Tour after the US Open in August.

After suffering a fifth straight loss in the opening round of the US Open in August, Ivanovic insisted she was not thinking of retiring, but subsequently announced she was calling time on her 2016 season in a bid to allow wrist and toe injuries to fully heal.

Ivanovic had posted pictures of herself back in training in December and was one of the highest-profile players to compete in this year’s International Premier Tennis League in Asia.

However, the Serbian had earlier this week fuelled speculation over her future by a cryptic message posted on Twitter.

Ivanovic, who married Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger during the summer, was due to begin the new season at the ASB Classic in Auckland, starting on January 2, and was also on the entry list for the Australian Open.

Following her Facebook video, the 29-year-old also issued a written statement via her official Twitter account.

Ivanovic said she would not be “disappearing completely from the (WTA Tour) circuit” and was “excited about the new challenges and the new path ahead of me”.</s>Ana Ivanovic, the former world No1 and French Open champion, has retired from tennis at the age of 29, the Serb confirmed on Wednesday.

“There is no other way to say this. I have decided to retire from professional tennis. It was a difficult decision but there is so much to celebrate,” Ivanovic said on her Facebook page. “Don’t be sad, be optimistic alongside me. My love and my greatest thank you to all of you.”

Ivanovic reached world No1 shortly after winning the French Open in 2008. She held the post for nine weeks and never reached those heights again, dropping to 63rd in the rankings.

Ivanovic did reach the semi-finals of the French Open in 2015, sparking hope of a revival, but she has now decided to call it a day.</s>In this Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016 file photo, Ana Ivanovic of Serbia serves to Denisa Allertova of the Czech Republic, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. Ana Ivanovic is retiring from tennis at age 29, ending a career in which she was ranked No.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Houston Chronicle.</s>(CNN) Twenty-four hours after teasing her 1.23 million Twitter followers with news of an "important" announcement, Ana Ivanovic has revealed that she is retiring from professional tennis.

In a two-minute video streamed on her official Facebook page , the 29-year-old said hanging up her racket -- after being hindered by injuries -- was a "difficult decision" to make.

"There is no other way to say it -- I've decided to retire from professional tennis. It has been a difficult decision but there is so much to celebrate. I began dreaming of tennis when I was five (years old) when I saw Monica Seles playing on TV..." the Serbian said, referring to the nine-time grand slam winner born in Novi Sad.

"I've seen the heights I've never dreamed of achieving -- 15 WTA titles, (reached) three grand slam finals, a Fed Cup final and I've played so many memorable matches. Not bad for a tiny slip of a girl from Serbia!"

Aided by a devastating forehand, Ivanovic won her first and only grand slam singles title in 2008, beating Russia's Dinara Safina in the French Open final -- the victory, and an Australian Open final appearance earlier that year, sent her to the top of the women's rankings.

WTA CEO and chairman Steve Simon described Ivanovic as a "true champion" in a statement released Wednesday.

"Ana is a true champion and a great ambassador for the sport of women's tennis," Simon said.

"She has contributed greatly to the entire sport, both in her home country of Serbia and across the globe. She will certainly be missed on our tour as she is not only one of a very select few that achieved the WTA No. 1 ranking but is also one of the most respected players on Tour."

Nigel Sears, who coached Ivanovic in a pair of stints, called her "a rare and true talent" and a "pleasure to work with."

"Her special blend of sparkling, instinctive shotmaking, spearheaded by that very special forehand and also armed with a deft touch -- she always kept you on the edge of your seat!" Sears, the father in-law of men's No. 1 Andy Murray, told CNN in an email.

The forehand was "a very natural, totally unique shot which on her day was capable of destroying any opponent," he continued. "The winners would come from almost anywhere on the court and nobody could do anything about it.

"Ana was one of the most emotional players on Tour and wore her heart on her sleeve."

Injuries have dogged Ivanovic in recent years, which she said had contributed to her decision to bow out at a relatively young age. After her triumph in Paris in 2008, a thumb injury affected Ivanovic the rest of that season and she was never the same player.

Her last appearance on court was at the US Open in August, when she was upset in the first round. A month earlier she married former Germany football captain Bastian Schweinsteiger.

"It's well known I've been hampered by injuries so for myself, my fans and all these young girls and boys who might be watching me -- I can only play if I perform up to my own high standards and I can no longer do that, so it's time to move on," said Ivanovic, a longtime friend of Serbian men's 12-time grand slam winner Novak Djokovic.

"Tennis has always been my love but I'm so excited about what comes next ... I will explore opportunities in business, beauty and fashion among other endeavors. I will also have more time for my philanthropic activities.

"I've lived my dreams and really hope others to do so as well."</s>Former world number one Ana Ivanovic has confirmed her retirement from professional tennis, via a video announcement on her official Facebook page.

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Ivanovic, who won the French Open in 2008, fuelled speculation over her future on Tuesday when she revealed she would be "sharing something important" with her fans and supporters.

And in a scheduled live broadcast at 6pm UK time on Wednesday, the 29-year-old Serbian revealed she is bringing an end to her career, citing recent struggles with injury as the primary factor behind her decision.

"There is no other way to say it: I have decided to retire from professional tennis," said Ivanovic.

"It has been a difficult decision but there is so much to celebrate. I began dreaming about tennis when I was five and saw Monica Seles playing on TV. My dear parents backed me all the way and by the time I was ranked number one in the world and won Roland Garros in 2008, I had seen heights I had never dreamt of achieving.

"I won 15 WTA Tour titles, [played in] three grand slam finals, Fed Cup finals and I played so many memorable matches. I would say [that is] not so bad for a tiny slip of a girl from Serbia.

"But seeing those heights in any professional sport requires top physical form and it's well-known that I have been hampered by injuries.

"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."

Urging her fans not to be sad about the news, Ivanovic - who earned over $15million in her career - said: "I have lived my dreams and I really hope to help others do so as well."

Ivanovic now intends to explore opportunities in business, beauty and fashion, in addition to dedicating more time to her philantropic activities.

Tennis great Billie Jean King paid tribute to Ivanovic via Twitter, in a message that read: "Best wishes with your future endeavors. Will miss seeing that spectacular smile! Once a champion, always a champion."</s>Former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic retires from tennis at 29

LONDON (AP) — Ana Ivanovic is retiring from tennis at age 29, ending a career in which she was ranked No. 1 in 2008 but can no longer play at the highest level because of injuries.

In a live broadcast on Facebook, Ivanovic said Wednesday "it was a difficult decision, but there is so much to celebrate." The Serb won 15 tour titles, including the 2008 French Open.

Ivanovic says it's "well-known that I've been hampered by injuries." She added that she would play only if she could perform up to her "own high standards" and she "can no longer do that."

Ivanovic lost in the first round of this year's U.S. Open and announced a week later she would take the rest of the season off because of wrist and toe injuries. She said she had a recurring wrist injury and would also have surgery on a toe she broke at the Australian Open in January 2015.
Former world number 1 tennis player Ana Ivanovic announces her retirement at the age of 29.