'Golden set' girl Yaroslava Shvedova announces retirement

• Tennis News
• WTA Tennis

Kazakh tennis star Yaroslava Shvedova has decided to retire from tennis at the age of 34. Shvedova didn't play until the end of 2017 until early 2020 after giving birth and undergoing an ankle surgery. Shvedova, who achieved a career-high ranking of No.

25 in the world in 2012, won her lone WTA title in Bangalore in 2007. Shvedova enjoyed much more success in doubles, having won doubles titles at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2010. In 2010, Shvedova ended runner-up with Julian Knowle in the French Open mixed doubles final.

Shvedova also participated in the 2015 French Open doubles final and made mixed doubles semifinals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. In 2016, Shvedova achieved a doubles career-high ranking of No. 3 in the world.

Shvedova will be remembered for her golden set

Only a handful of players have managed to achieve the golden set feat in the Open Era.

In 2012, Shvedova won a set without losing a single set. Shvedova won 24 consecutive points against Sara Errani during their Wimbledon third round clash to achieve the golden set feat. In the same week that Shvedova retired, former world No.

1 Kim Clijsters returned to the Tour at the age of 38. "Going to some of the events and hitting with some of the players just triggered a challenge within myself," Clijsters said. "That was the main reason, that little trigger of, I wonder if I can get myself in a situation where I can play the tennis I like to play and I know I can play." Clijsters understanrds the challenges of being a pro at the age of 38 and after giving births multiple times.

"With me and my stage now, a lot of things are new. Understanding how my body reacts differently after three children. I feel like I've been able to play more practice sessions in a row than I have in a long time. So that feels really good, being able to do that."