Tributes from the tennis world have poured in after former world No.5 Daniela Hantuchova announced her retirement on Thursday.
A former semifinalist at the Australian Open, the Slovakian confirmed her decision in a Facebook post uploaded onto her social media account. Hantuchova is currently at the Wimbledon Championships commentating for Fox Sports Asia. Her last tournament was at the Rabat International, where she was knocked out in the final round of qualifying. Since then, she has been troubled by a rib injury.
“I thought it was going to be the most difficult decision of my life, and it was. It took me a while to make this step, but once I did it I just feel such incredible joy, happiness, relief in a way. All the emotions are coming together in an incredible and beautiful way. I’m looking at everything that’s happening to me with such appreciation that I feel like I couldn’t have chosen a better time.” She told WTA Insider.
Hantuchova has been a formidable character on the women’s tour throughout her career, finishing ever season ranked inside the top 100 between 2001-2015. She reached 16 finals on the WTA tour, winning titles in six of them. Two of Hantuchova’s biggest accomplishments occurred at Indian Wells, where she lifted the trophy in 2002 and 2007. A three-time Olympian, she has also played in 61 grand slam tournaments.
“Tennis has been the biggest love of my life so far. I hope the next one will be the real one, in a different way. It’s been everything. It’s in my DNA and it always will be.”
“After everything I’ve done, I think it’s time to move on. I have new chapters ahead of me.”@DHantuchova on her retirement from tennis pic.twitter.com/iCyzfoecWO
— WTA (@WTA) 6 July 2017
The tributes
Reacting to the retirement news was Fed Cup team mate Magdalena Rybarikova. Shortly after her surprise win over Karolina Pliskova at Wimbledon, 28-year-old described Hantchcova as her ‘idol.’
“I’m in shock. She was my idol. When I was 16 years old and I was playing the Fed Cup, I was reluctant to talk to her,” Rybarikova said when she was told the news.
Dominik Hrbarty, who partnered Hantuchova in the Hopman Cup, has hailed her achievements in the sport. Outside of singles, the 34-year-old achieved a career grand slam in the mixed doubles and was a top-five player on the women’s doubles tour.
“Daniela has had an amazing career, she has achieved tremendous success. Getting into the top ten is the dream of every tennis player, she has even been in the Top 5. She has done so very much.” Said Hrbarty.
Further tributes to the Slovakian were posted on social media. Hantuchova ends her career with a main draw win-loss record of 517-389.
Wishing you @dhantuchova the very best for this new chapter of your life!! ❤🍀 congratulations on… https://t.co/BBCjOTTrrM
— TamiraPaszek (@tamira1990) 6 July 2017
@dhantuchova will miss you! You are and always will be amazing player and person on and off the court and I am very lucky to call you friend
— Jarmila Wolfe (@tennis_jarkag) 6 July 2017
Wishing all the best to @dhantuchova, who just announced her retirement from tennis.
Sending you a piece of magic from the 2002 #USOpen! pic.twitter.com/WPpBhg3r6v
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) 6 July 2017
