Swedish tennis player Johanna Larsson has announced that she is stepping away from tennis with immediate effect at the age of 31.
Larsson, who has been ranked as high as 45th in the world back in 2016, said her passion to play at her very best was no longer there during an interview with tennis.se. The announcement comes after what has been a tough start to 2020 for the current world No.236. After winning three matches in qualifying at the Australian Open, she won only one game during her first round match against Paula Badosa. Then at a Fed Cup event, she lost two out of three matches played.
“I’ve had these thoughts for a while, already during the Australian Open, but the real decision I made after the Fed Cup in February. Even though I was acknowledged that I was at a high level, the feeling was reinforced that I didn’t really have what it takes to play at the absolute top. I don’t want to do anything to 70-80 percent,” she commented on her decision to retire.
Whilst she never managed to break into the top 20, Larsson still managed to feature in five WTA finals during her career. Four of which were on the clay. She won her maiden title in 2015 on home territory at the Swedish Open before claiming a second trophy three years later at the Nuremberg Cup in Germany. She contested 37 grand slam main draws where she won a total of 16 matches.
Larsson’s grand slam main draw wins
-Australian Open 3
-French Open 8
-Wimbledon 0
-US Open 5
Larsson’s best achievements on the court took place in the doubles, where she was ranked as high as 20th in the world. Overall, she won 14 WTA titles on the tour. Her most successful partnership was with Kiki Bertens, whom she won nine trophies with. Together they were also runners-up at the 2017 WTA Finals. Larsson also reached the semi-finals of last year’s French Open with Kirsten Flipkens.
“I think I need some time now for it to really sink in.” Said Larsson. “Maybe it’s only in a month or two that you really understand that it’s over. Now it is nicer to have a morning sleep and not have anything planned, especially to not have to count down for days before I go out on the next trip. I can do things spontaneously with my family and friends, but it will level off and then I also think that missing and those pieces will come in.”
She was coached on the tour by Mattias Arvidsson, who also serves as the Swedish Fed Cup captain. In the team competition Larsson has achieved a total of 52 wins between 2005-2020, which is more than any other player in her country. She featured in a total of 48 ties.
“She has been a fantastic ambassador for Swedish tennis and has always given everything and never left anything to chance.” Said Arvidsson. “She has always been a role model at all levels, both in training and in competitions. It is clear that for all the younger players it was hoped that she would run for a while.”
Larsson ends her career with $4,033,736 in prize money earnings. She is currently the only Swedish female tennis player in history to win more than $3M in the sport.
Retired female tennis players in 2020
- Caroline Wozniacki DEN
- Maria Sharapova RUS
- Ekaterina Makarova RUS
- Vania King USA
- María José Martínez Sánchez ESP
- Carla Suarez Navarro ESP (to retire at the end of the season)
- Johanna Larsson SWE
