The Australian Open has been robbed of one its most popular drawcards following Ana Ivanovic’s sudden retirement from tennis.
Dubbed Aussie Ana during her charge to the 2008 Open final, Ivanovic was the darling of Melbourne Park as she cradled koalas and celebrated her grand slam run with a family barbecue on Australia Day.
Apart from having aunts, uncles and cousins in Melbourne, Ivanovic spent her early years preparing for the Open on Sydney’s northern beaches with her Australian trainer Scott Byrnes.
Adam Scott’s one-time leading lady also landed her maiden WTA title in Australia, the Serb’s breakthrough at the 2005 Canberra International kick-starting her climb to world No.1 three years later.
But at 29 and having slipped to 63rd in the rankings after being dogged by injuries, Ivanovic has called it quits.
“This has been a difficult decision but there has been so much to celebrate,” she posted to her legions of fans on Facebook.
“I began dreaming of tennis when I was five and saw Monica Seles play on TV. My parents backed me all the way, and by the time I was ranked No.1 in the world and won Roland Garros in 2008, I’ve seen the heights I’ve never dreamt of achieving.
“But seeing those highs demands top physical form and it’s well-known that I have been hampered by injuries.
“I can only play on if I can perform to my own high standards and I can no longer do that, so it is time to move on.”
Ivanovic endured one of her toughest years in 2016, her last match a first-round loss at the US Open in September.
The 2008 French Open champion had planned a comeback next month in Auckland – where she reigned in 2014 – and even posted about her return to training just a fortnight ago.
But there will be no summer farewell as Ivanovic, who married German football superstar Bastian Schweinsteiger in Venice in July, prepares for the next chapter in her life.
“While my competitive chapter is coming to an end, tennis and my love for the game will still remain very close to my heart,” she said.
“I won’t be disappearing completely from the circuit. I am also excited about the new challenges and the new path ahead of me.”
