Nicole Vaidisova Quits Tennis At The Age Of 27

Former top-10 player Nicole Vaidisova has has announced her retirement from tennis after enduring a career troubled by injury.

In 2006 the Czech rose to prominence at the age of 17 when she entered the top 10 in the world rankings, achieving a career high of 7th a year later. During her career, Vaidisova claimed six WTA titles and reached two grand slam semifinals between 2006-2007. She claimed her first WTA title at the Vancouver Open when she was just 15-years-old.

The early promise demonstrated by the Czech resulted in her stepping away from the sport at the age of 20. Competing on the main stage of the tour at a young age, Vaidisova’s love for the sport deteriorated and she decided to quit in 2010. At the time she said that she was ‘fed up with tennis’.

Vaidisova’s hiatus from the sport ended in 2014 when she returned to action at an ITF $75,000 tournament in Albuquerque, America. During her comeback, Vaidisova failed to reach the heights of what she previously had done earlier in her career, failing to break the top-200 due to a series of injury setbacks. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old did display glimmers of her talent, most notably during her three-set loss to Simona Halep at the 2015 Miami Open.

So…This has been one of the hardest words for me to write.After months and months of thinking and agonizing about this, I have decided to retire from professional tennis.It has been one of my hardest and most emotional decisions of my life.As many of you know,I have been struggling with various injuries on/off for the better part of the last 2 years and it has gotten to the point where I have spent more time in hospitals,physical therapy and doctors offices then on the court,playing the sport I love.This has been painful and exhausting,not just on my body,but on my mind as well and I have reached the point where I did not want to put my body throught it anymore.Coming to this final decision took me months,as even through all the ups and dows,it is a game I grew to love for what it is.Ever since I decided to come back 3 years ago,it has been a roller coaster ride of huge highs and lows,on and off the court.I am forever grateful and feeling so incredibly lucky to have had the unwavering support and uncoditional love of my family,friends,Daniel,as well as my medical and tennis team.Without them,it would have been imspossible to come back.My tennis career has been anything but ordinary,but above every opinion,comment and what ifs,I can proudly say it has been MINE.I do not regret any decision,good or bad,as it has made me the person I am today.As I close this chapter of my life,I look back in amazement at everything I was able to do.I am proud to have been able to compete with the best athletes in my sport and represent the Czech Republic,the country I love,in many fed cups and Olympics,it has been an honor.Finally,I can never thank all of you enough for all the support and words of encouragement that I have received over the years,it has meant the world to me and kept me going when I wanted to give up.Thank you,from the bottom of my heart,I will never be able to express enough gratitude to every single one of you,I am so honored. 20 years ago, this little girl had a dream,and today, I can say it has come true ❤️

A photo posted by Nicki Vaidisova (@nicolevaidisova) on Jul 20, 2016 at 2:57am PDT

Vaidisova’s career in Numbers
2– twice a grand slam semifinalist (French Open 2006 and Australian Open 2007)
6 – number of WTA titles ~2004 Vancouver Open, 2004 Tashkent Open, 2005 Seoul Open, 2005 Japan Open, 2006 Bangkok Open and 2006 Strasbourg Open.
7 – her ranking high (achieved 14/5/2007)
195 – number of WTA /ITF main draw wins

Highlights – Nicola Vaidisova Vs Simona Halep (2015 Miami Open)

Video via TennisTV/WTA Tour