Sweden's Johanna Larsson Announces Her Retirement From Tennis

31 year old Swede Johanna Larsson has announced her retirement from tennis, with immediate effect. Larsson peaked at No. 45 in singles in 2016 and No. 20 in doubles in 2017. She won 2 WTA singles titles in Båstad (2015) and Nuremberg (2018) and 14 titles in doubles, where she also reached the semi-finals in 2019 (with Kirsten Flipkens) in the French Open and the finals of the season-ending WTA Finals in 2017 (with Kiki Bertens).

Speaking to the tennis.se website, Larsson says she is not able to give her 100% effort in the sport, which is why she has taken the decision to stop. "I've had these thoughts for a while, also during the Australian Open, but the real decision I made after the Fed Cup in February. Even though I was acknowledged that I was at a high level, the feeling was reinforced that I did not really have what it takes to play at the absolute top. I don't want to do anything to 70-80 percent. I think I need some time now for it to really sink in. Maybe it's only in a month or two that you really understand it's over. Now it is more nice to have a sleeping morning and not have anything planned, especially to not have to count down for days before I go out on the next trip. I can find things spontaneously with my family and friends, but it will level off and then I also think that missing and those pieces will come in.

Larsson says tennis has been her life since she was 5 years old and that she is grateful for the journey she has had in her career so far. "It is so difficult to put words to that question. Tennis has really been my life, really from the age of five when I held a racket for the first time. My parents made the decision to move for my tennis when I was eleven years old and my brother was 13 years old. Then I played the Kalle Anka Cup and SALK Open, tournaments that are good to win when you are a junior in Sweden. I started tennis in Båstad at the age of 15 and actually started playing full time already, in Team Twilfit it was called. I've been on a crazy cool trip. I am most grateful to have made this trip, because I have so many wonderful memories. I have played in the biggest arenas and got to meet people from different cultures around the world. I have learned a lot about myself and it is really cool to look back when you are only 31 years old."

Speaking about her best memories on the tour, Larsson says, "It was incredibly cool last year when Kirsten Flipkens and I went to the semi-finals in double in Paris. Another doubles highlight was when me and Kiki Bertens reached the final in the WTA finals in Singapore. It was an incredible experience and when you look back you almost wonder if it really happened. We walked a bit like on clouds and it went our way almost all the way to the finish. The two stand out among the double results. When it comes to singles, of course it is the title in Båstad 2015. It was very cool to get to experience winning at home. The dream came true when I got to stretch my arms in the air from having gone and dreamed about it since I was a little kid. Titles and wins are a thing, but it's the whole trip that's the big deal. It is the one that I will really bring with me and all the people I met along the way. To set goals and achieve them, to be in the bubble and to invest everything in one thing and to be as good as possible… it's a pretty unique thing to do and fascinating to do it."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2VD4JfH