‘Tennis has given me immense joy’ – Spanish star announces plans to retire in 2020

WTA Tour
Carla Suarez Navarro

Carla Suarez Navarro has announced that next season will be her last competing on the WTA Tour.

The 31-year-old has been a mainstay in the world top 50 for over a decade, and reached a career-high ranking of sixth in 2016.

However, she slid 32 places in the rankings to 55 during 2019, and has now decided the time has come to bring her career to a close.

“The 2020 season will be my last year in the professional tennis circuit,” Suarez Navarro said in a statement.

“The sport has been a fundamental part of my life – it has given me immense joy and I cannot be more grateful for all the experiences that it has allowed me to live.

“At this time, I notice that the time has come to complete a beautiful chapter and begin to enjoy other areas of life. Tennis will always be in me.

“Tennis right now has a very high demand. To be high in the ranking you need absolute consistency, a world-class level of physical conditioning and a 24-hour daily psychological commitment.

“I have been in high competition for more than 15 years and have lived through these realities since the beginning of my adolescence.

“I want to enjoy one last season with the same professionalism as always.

“I am going to do a quality preparation, my whole team is going to travel with me from the month of January and I plan to compete until the end of the season.

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“My desire is clear: to be proud of this last effort when I reach the end of the road.”

Suarez Navarro has reached the quarter-finals of every Grand Slam except Wimbledon.

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Carla Suarez Navarro

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