Estonian tennis star Anett Kontaveit will end her career at this year’s Wimbledon tennis championships after failing to recover from a chronic injury.
In a surprise statement issued on Tuesday morning, the 27-year-old said she is no longer able to train at full capacity due to a back issue which has troubled her in recent months. Kontaveit has been diagnosed with lumbar disc degeneration in her back. So far this season, she has won only three out of 10 matches played on the WTA Tour.
“I started training for tennis 22 years ago, have been competing since the age of 7 and have been on the international tennis circuit since 2007. All these years, I have worked with determination and dedication to rise to the top of women’s professional tennis. Today, I announce that I am retiring from my career as a competitive athlete,” Kontaveit said in a press release.
“This is an extremely emotional decision for me because I love tennis. I love the game, which has been the center of my life, my passion and my goal has been to achieve the best results. Every professional player knows how difficult it is to reach the top in tennis and even more difficult to stay there. To win any title, you have to work not only physically, but also mentally,” she added.
Kontaveit’s decision to step away from the sport comes just 12 months after she reached a career-high of No.2 in the world. During her career, she has won six WTA titles and was runner-up at 11 other tournaments, including the 2021 WTA Finals. Overall, she has recorded more than 20 wins over top 20 opponents.
Despite her success on the Tour, Kontaveit rarely managed to break through in the Grand Slams. Out of 32 main draw appearances, she reached the quarter-final stage once at the 2020 Australian Open. Overall, she has a win-loss record of 36-31 at the major events heading into her final one this year at Wimbledon.
Shedding light on her injury, she said the disc degeneration has made it ‘impossible’ for her to continue playing at the top level.
“After several doctor’s visits and consultations with my medical team, I have been advised that I have lumbar disc degeneration in my back. This does not allow for full-scale training or continued competition. Therefore, it is impossible to continue at the top level in such a highly competitive field,” Kontaveit explained in a post on social media.
“Tennis has given and taught me a lot, and I am very grateful for that. It has been important for me to bring the Estonian flag to the tennis courts and to be able to play in front of my supporters and fans all over the world. I am ready for new challenges after my last effort as a professional tennis player – to enjoy the game and compete as hard as I can at Wimbledon. Thank you everyone for your continuous support.”
Kontaveit is the first and only Estonian woman to have cracked the world’s top 10 and played at the WTA Finals. She was also the first from her country to reach the last eight stage at the Australian Open.
The final match of Kontaveit’s career is set to be played at Wimbledon which will begin on July 3rd.
