35-year-old three-time Grand Slam doubles champion Michael Llodra have announced that he will retire from tennis.
Llodra claimed back-to-back doubles titles at the Australian Open in 2003 and 2004 with fellow Frenchman Fabrice Santoro as well as the 2007 Wimbledon crown with Arnaud Clement. Despite his success in the doubles draw at the Grand Slam tournaments, Llodra never progressed beyond the fourth round in the singles. Throughout his career the Frenchman has enjoyed success in both the singles and doubles on the ATP tour with five singles and 26 doubles titles.
The reason for Llodra’s retirement is due to an elbow injury. He hasn’t played on the tour since November 2014 after undergoing an operation. Unfortunately the operation was unsuccessful for the Frenchman which has forced him to retire from the tour.
Llodra will still stay closely associated with tennis in his retirement. During his retirement press conference in Paris, he announced that he will work with the Belgian Davis Cup team in the build up to their upcoming final against Great Britain. The Frenchman will use his doubles experience to guide the Belgian team in what could be a critical match during the upcoming clash.
During an interview with rtbf.be, Llodra said that he was approached by world No.85 Steve Darcis about helping the Belgium team. The two are close friends. Darcis then persuaded his team captain, Johan Van Herck, to work with the Frenchman.
“At first, I was contacted by Steve Darcis. He is a very good friend and we speak often. I remember one time I was in tears on the phone when I had told him about my misadventures in last year’s in team matches. I told him so much that he told me that it would be best if I was able to help the Belgian team. My experience is that I know the doubles, so it could help. He then spoke to the team and the captain”. The 35-year-old revelled.
Llodra played in the final of the 210 Davis Cup against Serbia. In the final he won the doubles match alongside Clement as France claimed the title with a 3-2 win. The 35-year-old candidly admitted that he would have preferred to work with the French Davis Cup team, but agreed to the work due to his close friendship with Darcis as well as David Goffin.
Speaking about the importance of having somebody to guide them in the doubles, world No.16 Goffin spoke about the challenges single players such as himself have in the doubles.
“Sometimes, singles are so instinctive that we know directly how to play tactically. It is very clear in our heads. But in doubles, it is not necessarily the same. We do not know the position is very different. And to have someone who comes to tell us what to do, how to stand, it clarifies things in our head” Goffin said.
The Davis Final will take place in Belgium between November 27-29. Belgium face a tough task against Great Britain. In yesterday’s third round clash at the BNP Paribas Masters, Andy Murray crushed Goffin 6-0, 6-1. The British team will also have doubles specialist Jamie Murray, who has reached the final at two Grand Slam tournaments this year.
