Anett Kontaveit Forced Into Early Tennis Retirement With Injury – Anett Kontaveit, the former world No 2 has revealed her intention to retire after the upcoming Wimbledon tournament, at the age of 27. This decision is driven by a persistent back injury that has been troubling her for the past eight months. In a recent social media update, the Estonian tennis player clarified that her back ailment, known as lumbar disc degeneration, has rendered it infeasible for her to sustain her competitive career at the highest echelons of the sport.
This syndrome, typically associated with aging, arises when the deterioration of a spinal disc results in lower back pain. “Today I am announcing that I am ending my career as a competitive athlete,” she wrote on Instagram. “After several doctor’s visits and consultations with my medical team, I have been advised that I have lumbar disc degeneration in my back.” “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.”
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Having been consistently ranked among the top 30 players throughout her career, Kontaveit has garnered a reputation for her aggressive shotmaking from both wings, particularly her two-handed backhand. She is also known for her proactive approach, seizing the opportunity to dominate from inside the baseline. However, it was in the latter part of 2021 that she experienced a significant breakthrough. During this period, Kontaveit managed to harmonize her mental fortitude with her exceptional ball-striking skills.
The result was an astonishing performance, winning 28 out of 30 matches and securing four titles. This remarkable streak propelled her from the 30th spot in August to an unexpected qualification for the WTA Finals, achieved through her triumph in the final week of the season. Following her strong showing, Kontaveit attained a career-high ranking of No. 2 after Wimbledon last year. This position was maintained until the US Open, where she suffered a gripping three-set defeat at the hands of Serena Williams in the second round. Remarkably, that turned out to be Williams’s final victory before retiring.
Notably, Kontaveit stands as the highest-ranked player from Estonia, a nation with a population of 1.3 million. However, after relishing the most notable moments of her career a year and a half ago and positioning herself for further achievements, Kontaveit’s journey has taken an unexpected turn. Starting in October, her back issues became increasingly problematic, resulting in a struggle during the concluding weeks of the season.
Following her retirement from the second-round match in Abu Dhabi against Shelby Rogers in February, she took a two-month break in an effort to recuperate. Upon her return during the clay season, Kontaveit faced ongoing challenges, resulting in a straight-set defeat in the first round of the French Open against Bernarda Pera. Currently, her win-loss record for 2023 stands at 3-7, marking a significant decline from her position as the second-best player in the world last summer, as she now sits at No. 79.
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“Tennis has given and taught me a lot, and I am very grateful for that,” she wrote. “It has been important to me to bring the Estonian flag to the tennis courts and to be able to play in front of my supporters and fans all over the world.” “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.” Alongside her fierce competitiveness, Kontaveit was a popular figure among her fellow pros on the WTA Tour for her sportsmanship and friendliness off court.
