Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanck has retired from tennis at the age of 30 following a battle with injury last year.
The former world No.37 has issued a statement on social media explaining her decision to do so is linked to both physical and mental struggles she has been experiencing in recent months. Van Uytvanck missed eight months of the Tour in 2023 due to a back injury and hasn’t won a WTA main draw match since returning to action last October. However, on the lower-level ITF circuit, she has won three titles which includes the $100,000 Surbiton Open in June.
“Making this decision has been incredibly hard,” Van Uytvanck wrote on social media. “Over the past few weeks, I haven’t felt the same fire it takes to give my all, to fight for every point, and to travel around the world. It was not an easy choice, I have been struggling a lot last year while coming back from a serious injury, both physically and especially mentally.”
Van Uytvanck is a former French Open quarter-finalist and also reached the fourth round at Wimbledon. Overall, at the major events she won 17 out of 53 matches played.
On the WTA Tour, she claimed five singles trophies between 2017 and 2021. Winning titles in Québec City (2017), Budapest twice (2018 and 2019), Tashkent (2019) and Astana (2021). She also won another three WTA 125 events.
“For now I would like to focus on myself and explore the opportunities life has to offer besides tennis,” said van Uytvanck.
“As a result, I can not say for certain if or when I will regain my passion for tennis as a player.
“It’s been a journey full of highs and lows, it all started as a little girl with an enormous dream, like many of us I’ve always dreamed of one day being able to compete in Grand Slams. Having played numerous rand Slams, reaching the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, playing fourth round at Wimbledon and winning five WTA titles is truly the fulfillment of a dream and so much more.
“It’s a part of my life for which I will forever be grateful, I was privileged to be able to enjoy a wonderful career in tennis.”
Van Uytvanck is currently the fourth highest-ranked Belgian player on the WTA Tour at 225th in the world. Her final professional match took place last month at an ITF W75 tournament in Hechingen, Germany. Her last WTA event was the Prague Open.
