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Serious back injury prematurely cuts short former World No 2 Kontaveit's career

Estonian took to social media to say she will retire after Wimbledon and is now ready for new challenges after her last effort as a professional tennis player

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Estonia's Anett Kontaveit in action, - Reuters

By Reuters

Published: Tue 20 Jun 2023, 2:46 PM

Last updated: Tue 20 Jun 2023, 8:01 PM

Estonian Anett Kontaveit, who reached a career high of number two in the world last year, said she is retiring at the age of 27 due to a degenerative back injury and will play her final tournament at Wimbledon next month.

Kontaveit cut her 2022 season short in October and took another two-month break in February to focus on the issue.

"After several doctor's visits and consultations with my medical team, I have been advised that I have lumbar disc degeneration in my back," she wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.

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"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.

"I am ready for new challenges after my last effort as a professional tennis player - to enjoy the game and compete as hard as I can at Wimbledon."

Kontaveit, now ranked 79th in the world, exited the Australian Open in the second round and has not played since a first-round defeat at the French Open in May.

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A quarter-final run at Melbourne Park in 2020 is her best Grand Slam result to date.

Kontaveit won four titles and reached the WTA Finals in a breakthrough 2021 season and was ranked world number two last September at the U.S. Open, where she lost to Serena Williams in the second round.

Reuters

Published: Tue 20 Jun 2023, 2:46 PM

Last updated: Tue 20 Jun 2023, 8:01 PM

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