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Kiki Bertens Announces Plan To Retire From Tennis At 29

Just two years after becoming the first Dutch woman in history to break into the world’s top four, Bertens says Tour life has taken it’s toll on her.

Published

2 years ago

16/06/2021

Adam Addicott

Former world No.4 Kiki Bertens says she is ready for the ‘next chapter’ in her life after announcing her intention to retire from professional tennis later this year.

Bertens, who is the highest ranked Dutch player in WTA history, said her decision to step away from the sport at the age of 29 has been influenced by her recent battle with an Achilles injury. She was forced to miss the first three months of the season due to the problem and since then has won only two out of seven matches played on the Tour. At the French Open she lost in the first round for the first time since 2015.

“I want to share with all of you that I have decided this year will be the last season of my tennis career,” the world No.20 wrote on social media. “I have always demanded the maximum of myself, but the tank is quite empty.”

Bertens has won 10 WTA titles during her career with five of those occurring at Premier events. She has recorded 23 wins over top 10 opposition and ended three consecutive seasons (2018-2020) inside the world’s top 10. In the majors she has made 33 main draw appearances with her standout result being a run to the semi-finals of the 2016 French Open. She also reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in 2018.

The Dutchwoman is also an accomplished doubles player and has been ranked as high as 16th in the discipline. She has won a total of 10 doubles trophies with nine of those being alongside Sweden’s Johanna Larsson who retired herself last year. Her other triumph was with compatriot Demi Schuurs. Bertens and Larsson were also runners-up at the 2017 WTA Finals.

“The balance of the hard work I put in day in and day out and the satisfaction I get out of it at the end of the day is no longer there,” she said. “Also, I am more than ready for the chapter that comes next after this. The next few tournaments to come are Eastbourne, Wimbledon and the Olympics. We will decide after if my body recovers well enough to play the rest of the season. I will do everything I can to end my career in the best way possible.”

Speaking to WTA insider, Bertens admits that she might have been able to continue playing for a couple more years if the COVID-19 hadn’t stopped her momentum on the Tour last season. During the Tour break she returned home but when it was time to get back her Achilles continued to bother her.

“If the 100% you give every day is not enough anymore, and the work doesn’t give you the satisfaction anymore, you have to ask yourself why am I still doing this? On that ‘why’ I didn’t find the answers. For me then, it was a clear decision. It’s enough for me. Enough is enough,” she said.
“”I talked about it with Elise [Tamaela, coach] and Remko [de Rijke, husband and trainer] and after Paris I made the decision that this is not how I want to continue my career because I don’t want to end it where it’s all only frustrating. I want to end it in a nice way and on my own terms. That’s why I decided this will be my last season.”

Bertens will return to action next week in Eastbourne where she is set to be unseeded in the draw.

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World Tennis League: Swiatek And Medvedev Among Top Names To Play Exhibition Event

Published

39 mins ago

01/12/2023

Adam Addicott

image via ATP Twitter

During the off-season, some of the world’s best players will head to the United Arab Emirates next month to play in a four-day team event.

The World Tennis League (WTL) will host its second edition between December 21-24 at the Yas Island’s Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The event features a total of 16 players split into four groups with each of those teams competing for the trophy. Every group will have their own coach and even an owner.

Earlier this week, organizers confirmed the last players to be added to the line-up. Casper Ruud, Hubert Hurkacz and Taylor Fritz will all play in the event which will feature a combination of singles and mixed doubles matches. Those who have already confirmed their entry include Iga Swiatek, Daniil Medvedev, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

As for who is in what group, the SG Mavericks Kites features Sabalanka, Tsitsipas, Paula Badosa and Grigor Dimitrov. The owners of that team are SG Sports, the sporting arm of APL Apollo Tubes. An Indian-based structural steel tube brand. Their coach will be former Australian Open doubles champion Robert Lindstedt.

Team Eagles will be made up of Medvedev, Rublev, Sofia Kenin and Mirra Andreeva. Their owners are the Punit Balan Group. Balan is an Indian film producer and owner of several sporting teams. They will be coached by John-Laffnie De Jager who has previously worked with the likes of Kevin Anderson, Daniella Hantuchova and Ajla Tomljanovic.

The Honor FX Falcons is named after owners Honor FX features. Rybakina, Fritz, Frances Tiafoe and Leylah Fernandez are in that group which will be led by Chris Groh. Groh has previously coached Fritz during his teenage years.

Finally, The Hawkes team has Swiatek, Hurkacz, Ruud and Caroline Garcia. The team are the only one yet to have an official owner. Sweden’s Simon Aspelin will be their coach.

“We’re thrilled to be announcing more star names to our exceptional tennis line-up for season two of the World Tennis League,” Rajesh Banga, chairman of the World Tennis League, said.
“These players are of the highest calibre and prominent names around the world so we’re pleased they will be competing in the unique tournament at our new home in Etihad Arena.”

The schedule of the event will be the following:-

DAY ONE: Hawks Vs Honor FX Falcons, Team Eagles Vs SG Mavericks Kites

DAY TWO: Honor FX Falcons Vs SG Mavericks Kites, Team Eagles Vs Team Hawks

Day Three: Team Eagles Vs Honor FX Falcons, SG Maverick Kites Vs Team Hawks

Day Four: knockout rounds

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Luca Van Assche rallies from two sets to one down to beat Alex Michelsen

Published

13 hours ago

30/11/2023

sampaolo

Luca Van Assche came back from two sets to one down to defeat Alex Michelsen 4-3 (7-0) 3-4 (4-7) 3-4 (4-7) 4-1 4-3 (8-6) in 2 hours and 36 minutes at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah in the second longest match in the history of this tournament.

Van Assche and Michelsen went on serve in the first three sets. Both players saved all five break points they faced in the first three sets.

There were three consecutive breaks in the fourth set. Van Assche earned two of them and served out the set at love in the fifth game.

Both players traded breaks in the fifth and sixth games of the fifth set. Van Assche earned a chance to serve for the match, but Michelsen pulled back on serve to force a tie-break.

Van Assche built a 3-0 in the tie-break with an early mini-break. Michelsen saved two match points to draw level to 6-6. Van Assche sealed the win with another mini-break on the second match point.

“He was playing very well the whole match. It was really close. Not a lot of breaks and it was difficult for me but I am very happy”, said Van Assche.

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Arthur Fils beats Dominic Stricker to end Green Group unbeaten

Published

16 hours ago

30/11/2023

sampaolo

Arthur Fils battled past Dominic Stricker 4-2 3-4 (3-7) 4-2 4-3 (7-5) after 1 hour and 47 minutes in the final round-robin match to end the Green Group unbeaten with a 3-0 record at the Next Gen ATP Finals.

Stricker knew that he would advance to the semifinals if he won just one set. The Swiss player won the set he needed against the already qualified Fils to secure his spot in the semifinal despite the defeat.

Stricker saved a break point on the deciding point in the third game of the fourth set. Fils earned the break in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead and served out on his second set point.

Stricker held serve at love in the first game of the fourth set. The Swiss player broke serve on the deciding point to open up a 2-0 lead. Fils broke straight back in the third game and held serve at 15 to draw level to 2-2. Fils earned three mini-breaks, but Stricker pulled back on serve each time. Fils sealed the tie-break 7-5 on his second match point.

Stricker beat Fils 7-6 7-6 in Gstaad in their only previous head-to-head match last summer.

Fils saved two break points in the first game to hold serve. Stricker fended off a break point in the fourth game on the deciding point to draw level to 2-2. Fils earned his first break on his third set point with a forehand return winner in the sixth game to clinch the first set 4-2.

Stricker saved the only break point of the second set in the fourth game. Both players held on their serve en route to the tie-break. Stricker won six consecutive points from 0-1 down with two mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-3.

Fils won his first title in Lyon and reached the final in Antwerp

“I knew before the match that I qualified, but I just want to win every match that I am playing. I think I put a little bit more focus out there out there today than the first two days because I know this opponent and he already beat me this year. It was a tough match but I am really happy to win and let’s see who I get in the semifinal”, said Fils in the post- match interview.