Gisela Dulko announces retirement from professional tennis – Tennis News
Argentinean tennis player, Gisela Dulko, announced on Sunday that she is retiring from professional tennis with immediate effect.
Dulko wrote on her official website, "Dear friends: I would like to share with you that I have come to an important life-decision. I am retiring from professional tennis. This was not an easy decision, despite the fact that it
has been on my mind for quite some time.”
She continued, "Tennis has been my life for the past 20 years. I started playing when I was 7 and knew from a young age that I wanted to be a professional tennis player. I gave tennis my total devotion. With all my energy and my
love I achieved things I never believed possible.”
Dulko achieved limited success in singles but she was world’s best doubles player at one time. The Argentinean national turned pro in 2001 and attained her career best singles ranking of 26 in 2005. She won a total of four singles
WTA titles but never succeeded in reaching the last-eight stage at any Grand Slam event in her career.
She gave her best Major performance at the French Open last year, stunning the 2010 French Open runner-up, Samantha Stosur, in the third round. However, she was forced to retire due to injury midway through her fourth round encounter
with Marion Bartoli.
However, Dulko’s doubles record is admirable, winning a total of 17 WTA titles. The Argentinean player partnered Italy’s Flavia Penetta to clinch the season ending championships in 2010. With that win, Dulko reached the number
one doubles ranking in the world. With the same partner, she then grabbed the Australian Open crown in 2011.
Dulko and Pennetta made a disappointing start in this season, as they lost in the round of 16 at the Apia International Sydney and Australian Open. Then the Argentinean star joined forces with her countrywoman, Paula Suarez, but
these two could not get success together, failing to win any title throughout the season.
Telling the reason of her sudden retirement, Dulko stated that she has many other priorities in her life now and she cannot give same time to tennis that she used.
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