By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Anett Kontaveit will close the curtain on her competitive career after playing Wimbledon.
The 27-year-old Estonian announced her retirement from pro tennis after next month’s Wimbledon due to a back injury that prevents her from training.
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Kontaveit captured six career WTA titles and ascended to a career-high rank of No. 2 on June 6th, 2022.
“Today, I am announcing that I am ending my career as a competitive athlete,” Kontaveit posted on social media. “After several doctor’s visits and consultations with my medical team, I have been advised that I have lumbar disc degeneration in my back. This does not allow for full-scale training or continued competition.
“Therefore, it is impossible to continue at the top level in such a highly competitive field.”
The ongoing back issue has limited Kontaveit to 10 matches this season.
Kontaveit began playing tennis at the age of six, coached by her mom, Ulle.
A hard-hitting, aggressive baseliner, Kontaveit’s best Grand Slam result was a 2020 trip to the Australian Open quarterfinals.
The 5’9″ Kontaveit contested 16 Tour-level finals in her career, claiming her most recent title at the 2022 St. Petersburg where she reinforced her reputation as an indoor force.
Playing beneath a closed roof, Kontaveit showed no competitive ceiling.
22 – Only Steffi Graf in 1990 (43) and Monica Seles in 1993 (32) have won more consecutive indoor WTA main draw matches than Anett Kontaveit (22, between Ostrava 2021 and Stuttgart 2022) since 1989. Thank you!@WTA @WTA_insider @AnettKontaveit_ pic.twitter.com/rODpJPtlVQ
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) June 20, 2023
A spirited Kontaveit roared back from a 2-5 deficit in the decider streaking through the final five games in a wild 5-7, 7-6(4), 7-5 comeback triumph over Maria Sakkari in the 2022 St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy final. Kontaveit scored her 20th consecutive victory indoors with that final victory.
Photo credit: Getty
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