Not all stories have happy endings. That quote is likely something that 27-year-old former Estonian professional tennis player Anett Kontaveit can relate to. She had to be forced into retirement at an age when players often reach their peak. But will saying goodbye to tennis mean the end of the world for her?
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Anett Kontaveit was introduced to the sport at the age of 6 by her mother Ulle Milk. Her mother, a former tennis player, guided her down this path until she was 11 years old. Kontaveit went on to become the pride of Maryland and the first Estonian player to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
Anett Kontaveit believes that every dark cloud has a silver lining
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During her more than decadent career, she won 6 professional titles. Her best performance was at the 2020 Australian Open, when she reached the quarter-finals. But just as her career was taking off, she had to hit the brakes. She had to retire early after being diagnosed with lumbar disc degeneration. Her last professional appearance was at Wimbledon 2023. Throughout his career, there have been ups and downs. But when she was asked about her decision to retire early, she boldly defended her decision.
In a recent interview with ETV show Hommik Anuga, she explained the reasons behind her decision and what her life will be like after retirement. she says, “I’m the kind of person who thinks deeply before making any big decision. I know this is the right decision. I’m 100% at peace with it.”
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She then added: “Of course, I can achieve more, but I know when I play I give 100 percent of myself. I tried my best so I knew it was the right decision for me.“She is now looking forward to writing the next chapter in her life.
Kontaveit vs Serena Williams and Crowder
Anett Kontaveit was briefly in tears after losing to Serena Williams at the 2022 US Open. In that interview, she also revealed some of life’s on-and-off challenges. “A lot of the difficulties that came with tennis are now behind us. But one thing I’m really scared of is how I’m going to deal with all the things I’ve never dealt with before, like the stay-at-home routine, the cold, and the long winters. My life certainly didn’t end when I stopped playing tennis. There are many other opportunities in life. I think I’m very diligent and I want to find something new and exciting to do. Maybe people will actually hear from me again.” she says.
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Anett Kontaveit says her life didn’t end when she stopped playing tennis:
“I’m the type of person who thinks long and hard before making any big decision. I know it’s the right decision. I’m 100 percent at peace with it. Of course, I could have had more… pic.twitter.com/V6CNnPOSJ9
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 4, 2023
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“It’s very difficult to get along with a crowd.This was Kontaveit’s response when asked about fans’ reaction to the 2022 US Open. She literally felt like she was in a pressure cooker inside a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium. Fans cheer every time she makes an unforced error or Serena scores. Whenever the Estonians scored, the entire stadium fell into deathly silence. This was undoubtedly one of the most challenging moments of her career.
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She will now have a farewell match with one of her close friends, Ons Jabeur. The competition is scheduled to take place on November 11, 2023 at Tondiraba Ice Hall in Tallinn, Estonia. Let us know how excited you are for Kontaveit’s final appearance.
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