AFP/Split, Croatia
An emotional Mario Ancic, the former world number seven from Croatia, announced his retirement from professional tennis yesterday due to health problems.
“The decision to end my career was extremely difficult but after consulting experts from Croatia, the US, France and Germany I realised that my body can no longer keep up with the rhythm of today’s tennis,” a teary Ancic told reporters.
“The last back injury was the last straw” in making such a decision, the 26-year-old stressed at a press conference in his hometown of Split, on the central Adriatic coast.
“This is a difficult, emotional day for me. However, I don’t want it to be a sad day and I would like to still be remembered for everything I did in tennis and for the glory I brought to both Split and Croatia.
“Everything has en end. For me it was beautiful while it lasted and that is why this is a happy day,” Ancic stressed.
Ancic led Croatia to victory in the 2005 Davis Cup and, partnered with Ivan Ljubicic, won a bronze medal in doubles for Croatia at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
He also reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2004.
Ancic’s health problems started in 2007 when he was diagnosed with mononucleosis, which sidelined him for six months. He also suffered from shoulder problems and a back injury. Ancic graduated from the Split University Faculty of Law.
“I’ve been preparing for this day, although I didn’t think it would come so soon,” Ancic said.
Explaining he would stay “close to sports”, he said he would fall back on his law degree but will face “new challenges”. However, he added that it would take a “long time before I will be able to watch top tennis again”. He added: “I leave with my head held high, like a man who did not give up, who fought until the end, but who also knew when the moment came to leave.”