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Post by Brinyi on May 1, 2006 11:26:00 GMT -5
World Says Goodbye to Maggie in Grand Spectacle www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=62719Bulgaria's best tennis racket officially bid farewell to professional playing, but made sure her grand goodbye will be remembered. Magdalena Maleeva - the youngest and most successful of the legendary Maleeva sisters - played hotshots Martina Hingis, Conchita Martinez, Natasha Zvereva, Elena Lihovtseva and Liezel Huber in a Sofia beneficial show. (first time Liezel has been called a hotshot?) But alongside some of the hotshots of world tennis, Maggie was also joined on the court by sisters Katerina and Manuela. The night's hottest event for sure was the clash between Magdalena and Martina Hingis. Switzerland's ace overpowered Maleeva 6-2, 7-5, while the audience supported Maggie fervently with applause all the way. In the doubles, sisters Katerina and Manuela Maleeva played Martinez and Zvereva, losing 3-4. Then Maggie and Manuela won 4-1 to Liezel Huber and Elena Lihovtseva. The international superstars showed a good mood and excellent artistic skills, entertaining guests to the spectacular tennis gala. Maggie even received a video greeting from world's number 1 in men's tennis - Roger Federer - who said he was happy to know her and congratulated the Bulgarian on her impressive career. Maggie Maleeva was Bulgaria's youngest ever national tennis champ at the age of 13. Magdalena has won ten WTA Tour titles in singles and five in doubles. In October 2005, Magdalena retired from professional tennis, after 16 seasons in the tennis elite, ending the era of the Bulgaria's unsurpassed Maleeva family.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 3, 2006 15:43:43 GMT -5
Saori Obata retires.
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Post by janie on Jun 3, 2006 16:46:11 GMT -5
Yes, I saw that! Poor Sid. Goodbye, Sid's Saori!
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Post by janie on Jul 26, 2006 9:52:24 GMT -5
from a Japanese poster at wtaworld today: "Shinobu announced today that she'll retire from the tour at this year's US Open tennis.
"She said she couldn't play the tennis she wanted to since the end of the last season. She started getting tired of the tour life too."Oh, Shinobu! So what if you're tired of the tour life; can't you think of US? We need our Barbie-Killer!
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Post by shenaynay on Jul 26, 2006 10:59:35 GMT -5
Barbie Killer.
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Post by Brinyi on Aug 10, 2006 12:48:59 GMT -5
MAJA MATEVZIC SAYS GOOD BYE (from her website) Hey! | Wednesday - 09. 08. 2006 at 10:55 Hi! l finally decided to finish my professional career,as i have too mave injures and they are repeting all the time. So, i will play my last tournament this september in Portorose, where i will get the wild card in doubles (with Tina Krizan). l would like to thank all of you, for the support you gave me in all my professional years and also in the last 3 years, when i had problems with injuries. l am extremely sad that i have to leave tennis circuit, but i will try to teach some kids now here in Slovenia and give them all that i learn in all this years. BIG THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYBODY!!!!!
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Aug 10, 2006 14:35:56 GMT -5
Maja
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Post by DBBN on Aug 10, 2006 17:45:51 GMT -5
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Post by molala on Aug 10, 2006 17:59:03 GMT -5
Shinobu . I cheered her on (ineffectively but generously) at RG.
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Aug 13, 2006 23:01:40 GMT -5
Seles is apparently retired, according to a recent interview with TennisReporters.net.
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Post by Brinyi on Oct 11, 2006 14:37:52 GMT -5
BANGKOK, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Second seed Anabel Medina Garrigues battled with injury for three hours before losing 6-7 6-3 6-4 to unseeded Argentine Mariana Diaz-Oliva in the first round of the Bangkok Open on Wednesday. Diaz-Oliva, who will retire this week after 14 years in the sport, said she was determined not to make the match her last and praised her gritty opponent for trying to overcome a thigh problem. "I was quite emotional before I went on court, I thought maybe it was my last match," world number 219 Diaz-Oliva told reporters. "She wasn't running very well but she was always fighting, that's her nature, she never gives up. She's a tough opponent but I wanted to win."
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Post by janie on Oct 11, 2006 15:24:42 GMT -5
Ah! I noticed she's been having a bad year. Goodbye, good old MDO!
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Post by janie on Nov 2, 2006 20:42:50 GMT -5
Babsi Schwartz, I think from her web site: Herewith I want to inform you about the end of my professional tennis career. When I started playing tennis in my home town Brunn at the age of five, I never thought that I once would be No.40 in the world singles rankings, participating in the Grand Slams, winning against players like Venus Williams, Monica Seles, ... and having the honour to represent my own country in Fed Cup. Due to many injuries I suffered many setbacks but with the help of my family and my coach I succeeded in my comebacks and learned a lot from my losses. Sadly I found out in the past weeks and months, that I can´t work on with 100% that I need and as a professional tennis player for working, and 90% is not enough. It is hard for me to take this decision, because tennis gave me a lot... I hope I could give a little bit back. En route I want to say thank you to my family, my friends, and my coaches Peter Knebel, Bernd Wetter, Petr Hutka, Alfred Tesar, Manfred Hundstorfer, Christian Roth, Zdenek Zofka, Harald Leuthard, Manfred Kongler, Thomas Strengberger and Michael Oberleitner who motivated me in all the years and from whom I learned a lot, then the Lower Austrian and Austrian tennis federation for supporting me in my youth, also my sponsors NÖ Versicherung, Land NÖ, IMSB, Adidas, Babolat, B17 fitness, who also stayed with me in tough times... and a big thank you to my tennis fellows, who accompanied, motivated me, worked with me and made me run on court in all the years and to these, who motivated, supported me on and off the court. Last but not least thanks also to the media for the good cooperation of many years. Thank you all for you great support, yours Babsi Bye, Babsi. I kept hoping you'd get one more shot at it.
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Post by Brinyi on Nov 2, 2006 21:10:46 GMT -5
Babsi Schwartz, I think from her web site: Herewith I want to inform you about the end of my professional tennis career. When I started playing tennis in my home town Brunn at the age of five, I never thought that I once would be No.40 in the world singles rankings, participating in the Grand Slams, winning against players like Venus Williams, Monica Seles, ... and having the honour to represent my own country in Fed Cup. Due to many injuries I suffered many setbacks but with the help of my family and my coach I succeeded in my comebacks and learned a lot from my losses. Sadly I found out in the past weeks and months, that I can´t work on with 100% that I need and as a professional tennis player for working, and 90% is not enough. It is hard for me to take this decision, because tennis gave me a lot... I hope I could give a little bit back. En route I want to say thank you to my family, my friends, and my coaches Peter Knebel, Bernd Wetter, Petr Hutka, Alfred Tesar, Manfred Hundstorfer, Christian Roth, Zdenek Zofka, Harald Leuthard, Manfred Kongler, Thomas Strengberger and Michael Oberleitner who motivated me in all the years and from whom I learned a lot, then the Lower Austrian and Austrian tennis federation for supporting me in my youth, also my sponsors NÖ Versicherung, Land NÖ, IMSB, Adidas, Babolat, B17 fitness, who also stayed with me in tough times... and a big thank you to my tennis fellows, who accompanied, motivated me, worked with me and made me run on court in all the years and to these, who motivated, supported me on and off the court. Last but not least thanks also to the media for the good cooperation of many years. Thank you all for you great support, yours Babsi Bye, Babsi. I kept hoping you'd get one more shot at it. clink
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Post by janie on Nov 11, 2006 14:53:00 GMT -5
Maria Antonia Sanchez-Lorenzo has also retired, due to ongoing back pain.
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Post by janie on Dec 29, 2006 18:18:06 GMT -5
Paola se retira: 2007 ultimo año y se va a vivir a España!(si lloremos) (La Nacion - 28/12/06) Tenis El último esfuerzoPaola Suárez iba a retirarse, pero no quería hacerlo lesionada; ahora planea un 2007 con todo: jugar Roland Garros, la Fed Cup y despedirse en el Masters de Madrid. En el Centro Asturiano de Vicente López, donde se entrena desde hace 14 temporadas, Paola Suárez se prepara para sus últimos doce meses como profesional. A los 30 años, la jugadora nacida en Pergamino, ex top ten en singles y ex número 1 del mundo en dobles, siente que todavía tiene más para dar, y que no quiere decirle adiós a la actividad en medio de las lesiones que la acosaron en los últimos tiempos. Por estas horas viajaba a Auckland para jugar el primer WTA de la temporada, el lunes próximo; luego, buscará un lugar en el cuadro principal del Abierto de Australia desde la clasificación. Para Suárez, que en este momento ocupa el puesto 178° del ranking, las metas son precisas: sumar puntos en la primera parte del año y el torneo de Bogotá para conseguir el ingreso directo en Roland Garros, su torneo preferido. También quiere cerrar su ciclo en Madrid, junto con su amiga, la española Virginia Ruano Pascual, en el Masters de dobles. Antes de subirse al avión, Suárez habló de su momento. -La impresión generalizada era que 2006 sería tu último año como profesional... -Sí, yo también creía eso. Pero con todas las lesiones que tuve, no quería terminar mi carrera así. También nos quedamos con las ganas de entrar en el Masters con Vivi (Ruano)... Estábamos cerca, hicimos una gira por Asia, donde nunca habíamos ido, y justo me lesioné en Tokio. -¿Qué sensaciones te dejó 2006?
-Y... la verdad que feas, por las lesiones; fueron muchas y todas en el mismo lugar (el gemelo derecho). Hasta ahora, y con todos los estudios que hicimos, no sabemos bien de qué se trata. Fue duro, influyó mucho. Una se hace a la idea de preparar el año y una lesión te lo cambia por completo. Incluso tenía specials (torneos con ranking protegido) que no pude utilizar... Pero también pienso que esto llegó al final de mi carrera; habría sido peor al principio, o cuando estaba metida a pleno en el circuito. -¿Te pusiste algún objetivo especial? -Ahora quiero jugar con un poco de continuidad, sentirme bien y despedirme en Madrid, en el Masters, en dobles. Quiero llegar a ese objetivo, y en singles, jugar en Roland Garros, que es mi torneo preferido. -¿Cómo ves la actualidad del tenis femenino argentino? -Está complicado. [That's one way of putting it!] Habría que enfocar algunas cosas para que salgan chicas jóvenes al circuito y que puedan intentar lo suyo. Es una crisis sin enfoque, tampoco se hace mucho para que no esté en problemas, lo veo un poco descuidado hace mucho tiempo. La verdad es que es un problema que viene de varios años. -Si el capitán Ricardo Rivera te convoca, ¿estás dispuesta a jugar la Fed Cup? -Uf, ése es un tema... Hay que ver si las lesiones me dejan. La verdad es que me gustaría jugar una serie más antes de retirarme. Vamos a ver cómo se dan las cosas. No hay un equipo para estar en la tercera división (la Zona Americana), se puede subir de categoría. -Más allá de la medalla de bronce que ganaste en los Juegos de Atenas, no hubo muchas ocasiones de verte jugar por la Argentina... -Fue una cuestión de prioridades. Muchas veces hubo un problema de calendarios, yo tenía que decidir entre el ranking y la Fed Cup, y nunca me arrepentí de la prioridad que elegí. Son elecciones que hice, y que se puede estar de acuerdo o no, cada uno tiene su manera de pensar, y yo hice lo que consideré correcto para mí. Fran, el novio de Paola, insiste en que ella se tome un par de años sabáticos después del próximo Masters de Madrid. "Estoy interesada en crear una fundación, tengo varias propuestas. Y también me gustaría tener una escuela de tenis, pero hay que ver si me quedo aquí o me voy a España", [like they need more tennis schools in Spain! ] cuenta Poly, que podría mudarse a Asturias cuando se case. Claro que para eso falta todavía un año. Entonces sí, dejará los courts para empezar otra vida. Por José Luis Domínguez De la Redacción de LA NACION Link permanente: www.lanacion.com.ar/870830
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 13, 2007 9:15:51 GMT -5
"It may be my last (tournament). I will make my mind up after the Aussie Open. I know the first couple of years with Xavier (her 7 month old son) are pretty important."
-- E. Dominikovic
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Post by DBBN on Jan 13, 2007 16:01:38 GMT -5
Yeah, just a little, dear. Don't let the door hit you on the way out
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Post by Brinyi on Sept 14, 2007 11:40:29 GMT -5
One of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's all-time greats (not even I would make that claim!) has called it a career at one of the sport's most prestigious venues, as Paola Suárez retired from professional tennis at the US Open over the weekend. The Argentine will leave behind a legacy for South America, being just the second from her continent to get to the Top 10 in singles and the first to attain the world No.1 ranking in the doubles discipline.
As a youngster in Argentina just starting out, Suárez played tennis for fun, never really considering pursuing tennis professionally. But with her results improving and the star of countrywoman Gabriela Sabatini on the rise, her intentions began to change.
"I began to play tennis just to enjoy it and have fun, but I started to improve so I chose to make it my career," Suárez stated. "When I was young it was Sabatini. She was so popular and I saw her everywhere. I never actually said, 'I want to be like Gaby,' but the results started coming and I kept going. It was strange!"
After some success in the minor leagues, Suárez went pro on March 1, 1994, and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour success didn't take long to follow. She would win her first of eventually 44 doubles titles in 1996 in Bol, Croatia with Laura Montalvo, and in 1998 she would win her first of four singles titles in Bogotá, Colombia.
Her most memorable doubles triumphs came on the biggest stages, the majors. She ends her career with eight of them: one Australian Open (2004), three US Opens (2002, 2003, 2004), and four Roland Garros titles (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005). All of those, as well as one Sony Ericsson Championships title (2003) and three Wimbledon runner-up finishes (2002, 2003, 2006), came with one partner.
"We had some really nice moments and we'll always have good memories," said Suárez of Virginia Ruano Pascual. "We had a great time on the court, laughing all the time and having fun. That was the key to our partnership. And we're friends as well. Virginia was important for my career and in my memories of tennis."
Her four singles titles were perhaps overshadowed by more resonant singles runs at the majors. She made her first Slam quarterfinal at Roland Garros in 2002, her second at the US Open in 2003 and then reached the semifinals at Roland Garros in 2004. That was followed with a quarterfinal at Wimbledon a few weeks later.
"Making the semifinals of the French Open, one of my favorite tournaments, was the most important result of my career," said Suárez, who fell to Dementieva in that match. "It's on clay and in Paris, both of which made me feel really great. Also, winning the Olympic doubles bronze medal in Athens was exciting."
But in the last few years injuries became frustrating. After she and Ruano Pascual won Roland Garros in 2005, Suárez was forced to withdraw from the rest of the season due to a hip injury that would later require surgery; although she would come back to the Tour in 2006, she would begin struggling with more injuries. Earlier in 2007 she announced she would be playing her last professional season.
"After the hip surgery I didn't feel really good, and I just had too many injuries after that. I was just too tired of having all the injuries. I just felt beaten. And I wasn't having the same results. And I'm 30 years old - it was time to move on."
Originally she was going to stop after Wimbledon, then decided to extend that.
"I was supposed to retire after Wimbledon but I didn't tell anyone, and then I thought that wasn't a good idea for the fans and those who follow my career. So, I started practicing again for the US Open. Then I told the press I'd be retiring!"
Suárez fell in singles qualifying, then in the opening round of women's doubles. She fell in the second round in mixed doubles with Zimbabwe's Kevin Ullyett, and after the loss was given an on-court presentation which included kind words from current doubles great Liezel Huber and the uncorking of two bottles of Chandon. Suárez had her chance to thank a few people and, with teary eyes, said goodbye.
"I was always so surprised at how so many players from different countries could come together," said Suárez when asked about her best memories. "We were all different in culture and language, but came together with one thing in common."
Suárez was the first woman from South America to reach No.1 in doubles, holding it for a total of 87 weeks (the fifth-longest total of all time). Aside from Sabatini, she was the only South American woman to reach the Top 10 in singles, getting to a career-high of No.9 on June 7, 2004 (after her Roland Garros semifinal).
(Clink)
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Post by DBBN on Sept 14, 2007 12:41:40 GMT -5
I think she was an "all-time great." One-half of one of the best doubles teams ever, in addition to Top Ten in singles? Sounds good to me.
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Post by Traveling Man on Sept 16, 2007 6:42:36 GMT -5
Romina Oprandi retires, according to WTA World.
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Post by corswandt on Sept 16, 2007 16:20:56 GMT -5
Romina Oprandi retires, according to WTA World. No need to weep. It's her choice. She got injured in Budapest and wasn't at her best even at those red clay events she wasn't forced to withdraw from, so her ranking sank like a rock, and now she can't be arsed to make her way up through challengers again. I heard that, back when she was a hopeful, she had taken a full year off to party and hang out with her friends. I doubt she ever really wanted to be a pro tennis player. But it is a shame. I doubt we'll ever see anyone quite like her again. Total slob oncourt, but came up with some unbelievable stuff.
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Post by Traveling Man on Sept 17, 2007 0:13:02 GMT -5
Romina Oprandi retires, according to WTA World. No need to weep. It's her choice. She got injured in Budapest and wasn't at her best even at those red clay events she wasn't forced to withdraw from, so her ranking sank like a rock, and now she can't be arsed to make her way up through challengers again. I heard that, back when she was a hopeful, she had taken a full year off to party and hang out with her friends. I doubt she ever really wanted to be a pro tennis player. But it is a shame. I doubt we'll ever see anyone quite like her again. Total slob oncourt, but came up with some unbelievable stuff. I'm weeping for those dropshots we won't be seeing anymore. I remember her run in Rome. Those dropshots were insane.
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Post by janie on Dec 12, 2007 13:50:06 GMT -5
According to some random poster over at the World, Brinyi-fave Elise Tamaela has retired. Sorry, Brinyi!
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Post by janie on Jan 5, 2008 14:25:08 GMT -5
I hope this news won't send anyone into deep despair, but Tiffany Dabek has (finally!!) retired.
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Post by sasha on Jan 16, 2008 20:43:16 GMT -5
Prepare for tears...
Pratt leaves tennis behind Wednesday, 16 January, 2008 By Tristan Foenander
One of Australian tennis' favourite ladies, Nicole Pratt, has announced that she will bid farewell to the sport she loves at the conclusion of the Australian Open.
It is fitting that she will say goodbye in Melbourne, for it is the city that she names as her favourite.
The 34-year-old, who hails from Mackay, the daughter of cane farmers George and Dorothy, ended the season ranked in the top 100 - something which she has achieved for eight of the past nine years.
She has been a stalwart of the Australian Fed Cup team for the last decade, has competed at two Olympic Games and has played at the Australian Open on 18 occasions.
While always competitive in singles, Pratt has received her best results in doubles and has claimed nine WTA Tour titles.
A three-time doubles quarterfinalist at the Australian Open, she will no doubt be looking to go out on a high when she teams up with young American Vania King on Day 4 of the Open.
Pratt received the WTA Tour Player Service Award in 1999, 2000 and 2004 and will be remembered as a dedicated servant to the sport worldwide.
And as she leaves the sport that she loves we stop for a moment to recognise all that she has contributed to tennis around the world, and most of all, in Australia.
A keen fisherman, Pratt can now look forward to spending time cruising the Whitsundays and soaking up all that the Great Barrier Reef has to offer.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 17, 2008 4:34:00 GMT -5
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 17, 2008 8:55:31 GMT -5
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Post by janie on Jan 18, 2008 20:33:47 GMT -5
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Post by janie on Jan 26, 2008 8:51:41 GMT -5
Tenista puertorriqueña Kristina Brandi anuncia su retiro San Juan, 24 ene (PL) La tenista puertorriqueña Kristina Brandi, primera jugadora del país, confirmó su retiro del deporte activo y quedó fuera del equipo boricua para la Copa Federación, anunció hoy Humberto Torres, presidente de la Asociación en la nación caribeña. Brandi, de 31 años, tomó la decisión de colgar la raqueta después de los Juegos Panamericanos de Río de Janeiro, disputados del 13 al 29 de julio último, precisó Torres a la prensa. "Ella quería seguir hasta Beijing 2008 pero se dio cuenta de que le iba a costar mucho dinero mantenerse activa. Fue una decisión muy personal", agregó el directivo. Con el retiro de Brandi, el plantel puertorriqueño quedó integrado por Vilmarie Castelví, ahora la primera jugadora de la isla, Jessica Roland, y las juveniles Paola Calderón y Mónica Puig.
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