Mauresmo calls it a day...

Former Wimbledon and Australian Open champion Amelie Mauresmo has retired from tennis today after admitting she was no longer capable of putting in the effort to train for major competitions. The 30-year-old French player leaves after a 16 year career that has seen both highs and lows.

Two Grand Slam titles in 2006 were the pinnacle of hard work and effort which saw Mauresmo reach the No.1 spot as the best female tennis player in the world. After a winning drought in 2007 and 2008, Mauresmo came back this season to win her 25th singles title in Paris.

However, going out of the US Open this year in the second round to Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak was the final straw for the player, who officially decided to hang up her racket today. “It’s a bit sad, but this is the right decision,” the Associated Press reported Ms Mauresmo saying, “I had to make a decision, which became evident in the last few months and weeks. When you grew older, it’s more difficult to stay at the top.”

The French star revealed that she did not wish to train anymore and that she was no longer able to make the commitment to tennis: “If I were able to enter the court, play and shine, of course I could continue, but to achieve this you need to put in such hard work. And I’m not capable of that.” Tennis players have been tempted out of retirement in recent years to make triumphant comebacks.

Belgian Kim Clijsters won the US Open after two years out from tennis earlier this year in September. Justine Henin has also given the nod that she will return to the game after retiring at the peak of her game last year.

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Good luck to you Amelie and thank you for all the entertainment that you have given us all over the years. I wish you a fabulous future in whatever you do.