Not all stories have a happy ending. Anett Kontaveit, the 27-year-old former Estonian professional tennis player might well relate to this line. She had to take forced retirement at an age, where often players find their peak of forms. But did her adieu to tennis mean the end of the world to her?

Anett Kontaveit was introduced to the sport at the early age of 6 years by her mother, Ulle Milk. Her mother, a former tennis player, guided her through the path until she was 11 years old. Kontaveit later on became the pride of Mary’s Land and the first Estonian player to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.

Anett Kontaveit believes every cloud has a silver lining

During her over a decade professional career span, she had won 6 career titles. Her best performance was in the Australian Open, 2020 where she had reached the quarterfinals. But just as her career was gaining momentum, she had to put the brakes on. She had to take an early retirement as she was diagnosed with lumbar disc degeneration. Her final professional appearance was at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships. Throughout her career, there have been ups and downs. But when she was asked about her decision to retire at an early age, she defended her decision boldly.

In a recent interview on the ETV show Hommik Anuga, she explained the reason behind her decision and her life after retirement. She said, “I’m the kind of person who thinks very long & hard before making any big decisions. I know it was the right decision. I’m 100 % at peace with it.”

She went on to add, “Of course, there are more things I could have still have achieved, but I know that when I was playing I gave 100 % of myself. I did everything as well as I could, so I know this was the right decision for me.” She now looks forward to writing new chapters in her life.

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Kontaveit vs Serena Wiliams and Crowd

Anett Kontaveit once broke down in tears after losing to Serena Williams at the US Open 2022. In that interview, she also revealed some on and off the challenges of her life. “A lot of the hard things that came with tennis are behind me now. But one thing I’m really scared about is how I’m going to cope with all the things that I’ve never had to deal with before, like the routine of being at home, the cold & the long winter. My life certainly didn’t end there when I stopped playing tennis. There are so many other opportunities in life. I think I’m pretty hardworking & I hope to find something new & exciting to do. And maybe people really will hear from me again” she said.

“It was very difficult with the crowd.” This was Kontaveit’s response when asked about fans’ reaction at the US Open 2022. She was literally feeling like in a pressure cooker inside a jampacked Arthur Ashe Stadium. Fans roared in delight every time she made an unforced error or Serena earned points. The whole stadium went into dead silence whenever the Estonian snatched points. This was certainly one of the most challenging moments in her career.

She will now play her farewell match against one of her close friends Ons Jabeur. The match is scheduled on 11 November 2023, at Tondiraba Ice Hall in Tallinn, Estonia. Let’s know how excited are you to Kontaveit play for probably one last time.

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