TennisToday

Ivan Ljubicic Heads Off into Retirement

Ivan spent 14 years banging balls on the ATP tour.

He enjoyed his highest ranking of #3 for brief spell in 2006.

He was the Indian Wells Masters Series 1000 winner in 2010.

He carried Croatia to a Davis Cup championship in 2005.

He made a Grand Slam semifinal at Roland Garros in 2006.

He made two appearances at the year-end world tour finals, 2005-06.

He won a bronze medal in singles at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

He retires with 7 wins over the big 3: Federer (3), Nadal (2), Djokovic (2).

A career well done. Cheers.

Fernando Gonzalez Retires After Miami Loss

ATP Masters Series 1000 Miami - First Round

Nicolas Mahut d WC Fernando Gonzalez - 75 46 76(3)

What a thrilling way to go out - in a deciding set tie-break.

Fern enjoyed a pretty solid career - tho hampered with injury of late.

He won 11 career ATP titles - 4 of them at his home tourny at Vina Del Mar.

He was a Slam finalist at the '07 Aussie Open losing to Roger Federer.

He was a finalist at 2 1000 events: Madrid '07 (Federer) & Rome '08 (Rafa).

He earned a career high ranking of #5.

But it was at the Olympic Games where Fern would become a national hero.

In Athens he won the bronze in singles & gold in doubles with Nicolas Massu.

And in Beijing he won the silver after losing the final to Rafael Nadal.

Well done Fern, we'll miss you. The ATP put together a nice video tribute:

Fernando Gonzalez Set to End Career at Miami

It's a bit sad to see this guy go.

He received a wildcard into Miami and opens against Nicholas Mahut.

If he wins that match he'll get the 7th seed Tomas Berdych.

We'll have a better goodbye to Fern after he plays his last match.

There was a farewell party for him last night.

Rafa posted this pic on his Facebook.

Justine Henin Retires from Women's Tennis, Again

What a day for tennis... Rafa's out of the AO owing to injury and Justine retires from women's tennis (again) because she just couldn't recover fully from an elbow injury sustained at Wimbledon last year. Sad day indeed.

Justine's message, via her Facebook page:

I address my letter to you because this is currently the best way to express meself, I now experience very difficult times. I have unfortunately not good news. I spent the last days undergoing  various  medical tests and they have confirmed that my elbow has been damaged by my adventure in Australia.

After my crash at Wimbledon in June, I knew it would be difficult to come back. But I had decided to keep playing and to give everything to overcome the injury. In these recent months I have rarely been spared from the pain, those last months were very hard. Time has passed, and the doubts have grown, and only return to the courts would give me answers. Not the answer I was hoping for... unfortunately. I suffered a lot the last week and every day gave me more and more pain, but I believed that my will would take the upper hand. Today, the examinations are clearly and and the doctors formally, my elbow is too fragile and hurt so that my passion and my profession at high level cannot continue to exist.

Farewell Charly...

Carlos Moya received a fitting on-court retirement celebration today.

Carlos tweeted afterward:

Hard to explain my feelings today at the center court in London.

I'm wordless... THANKS everybody.

All smiles: Fellow World #1's Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal were present.

As was the rest of the WTF field. --- See you in Newport in 2015 Charly.

Hey look... a camera finally finds Fernando!

Photos: Getty Images

Carlos Moya Called it a Career Today

And Carlos has the Hall of Fame trifecta - #1, a Slam and a Davis Cup title.

Carlos turned pro in 1995 and in the following 15 years won 20 ATP titles.

Including the biggie at Roland Garros in '98 - defeating Alex Corretja.

His 1st title came in '95 at Buenos Aires, his last was at Umag in '07.

In fact he seemed to own Umag winning it 5 times!

Carlos spent 2 weeks at #1 in March of '99 - the 1st Spaniard to reach #1.

He also anchored the team that won the Davis Cup (over the US) in 2004.

He wanted a farewell tour but his nagging right foot injury prevented it:

It's not how I dreamt of ending my career.

I wanted to play the big tournaments and say goodbye.

Instant legend tatus: See you in Newport in about 5 years Charly.

Photo: AP

Elena Dementieva Retires from WTA Tour Today

Wow, I did not expect that at all. The surprise choked me up some too.

I assumed all the older players were looking to the '12 Olympics to assess.

I had the pleasure of watching her play several times. Ah, those groundies!

Elena may be remembered as the best player to never have won a Slam.

But he does have a gold medal from the Beijing Olympic Games.

This might be enough to get her into the Hall of Fame. I hope so.

Elena turned pro in 1998 and in the 12 years that followed...

She recorded a W/L of 575-271 & reached a high of #3 in the rankings.

She won 16 titles - her 1st at Amelia Island in '03, last Paris Indoors in '10.

She earned just over 14 million in prize money.

And finished in the top 10 six years - and twice at #11.

Until she missed W this year (injury) she had played in 46 straight Slams.

This was her 10th appearance in the season-ending championships.

The Grass Court Tennis Season Officially Began Today

It's a short season - but it promises to be a good one.

Play got underway at ATP Queen's Club and Halle & WTA Birmingham.

Next week the tours combine for events in Eastbourne and Den Bosch.

This all leads up to the 2 most famous weeks in tennis history:

WIMBLEDON.

Photo: Reuters

Goodbye: Virginia Ruano Pascual Retires Today in Madrid

Today in Madrid Virginia enjoyed a lovely on-court retirement ceremony.

Virginia in singles play:

3 tour titles. Ranking high of #28. Quarterfinalist at the Aussie & French.

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Virginia in doubles Play:

Virginia enjoyed a career high ranking of #1.

42 tour titles - including 32 with Paola Suarez & 5 with Ana Medina Garrigues.

She won 10 Slams: 1 Australian, 6 French and 3 Us Open.

First 8 Slams with Suarez and the last 2 French titles with Garrigues.

Virginia also won two silver medals at the Olympics in doubles.

She also won a mixed doubles title at the French '01 with Tomas Carbanell.

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There is a great case here for the Hall of Fame.

Thanks for playing Virginia. See you in five years in Newport.

Photos: Getty Images