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Barbora Strycova retires from tennis after announcing her first pregnancy in March. The Czech, 35 years-old, wrote on her social media: "Up until now, tennis has been my only world, I loved it for the victories and also for the sacrifices and sweat.
I never thought I'd end my path during a pandemic, but some moments in life can't be planned and I'm super excited about my future as a mom. I hope to play one last match in front of the public, for a proper greeting." Barbora won the Wimbledon women's doubles title in 2019 alongside Su-Wei Hsieh.
She lost with Hsieh the 2020 Australian Open to Babos and Mladenovic in the final. In women's singles, she reached number 16 as best ranking in 2017, and she won two tournaments, the Quebec City 2011 and Linz 2017. She got the Wimbledon semifinal in 2019, when she was beaten by Serena Williams.
Strycova got six wins in the Fed Cup between 2011 and 2018, and the Olympic bronze medal in Rio in the women's doubles with Lucie Safarova. Steve Simon, chairman of the WTA, said: "Barbora was a true champion, we will miss her on and off the court, she quits her having so much to be proud of.
As a former double number one, her legacy within our sport is indelible. We wish her the best in her future plans and especially in her new journey towards motherhood." Strycova in 2021 played the Australian Open, when she was eliminated in the first round by Svetlana Kuznetsova, while in the women's doubles, in Melbourne, the doubles draw in the second round, always with Su-Wei -Hsieh.
👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻 pic.twitter.com/hHkCTsPsiO — Barbora Strycova (@BaraStrycova) May 4, 2021
Caroline Wozniacki and the difficulties in becoming world no.1
The career of the Danish former player Caroline Wozniacki, born in 1990, deserves the utmost respect.
Of Polish descent, Caroline became WTA world number one in October 2010 at the age of just 20. Despite not having won any Grand Slam titles during her reign as world no.1, Wozniacki won the 2018 Australian Open when she defeated Simona Halep in the last match.
She reached the final twice at the US Open in New York, while in 2017 she raised the trophy of the WTA Finals in Singapore. Caroline's career came to an end in January 2020, after taking part in the Australian Open for the last time.
The Dane overtook Kristie Ahn and Dayana Yastremska, before giving in to the third set against Tunisian Ons Jabeur. Speaking recently with past champion Chris Evert, Caroline recalled her conquest of the top of the women's rankings.
She said: "I think it's everyone's dream when you start playing tennis, that is to become number one in the world, to be the best and win a Grand Slam. I was excited, I managed to become number one at twenty, it's a child's dream that comes true." Wozniacki continued: "I think it was very thrilling, but at the same time a little depressing.
I'll tell you why. I remember winning my quarter-final match against Petra Kvitova in Beijing and then, right after that match, I knew I was going to be number one in the WTA starting the following Monday. As you know, they did this great presentation for me.
Everything was great, there were flowers in the field, champagne. There was my father. It was truly wonderful. I was number one in the world, but practically nothing changed. It was always the same. I think it was at that moment that I realized that everything is about travel.
It's about getting there. It's about all those hours you've spent for years, the experiences, the ups and downs. This is what really matters. Of course, achieving your greatest dream is incredible. But you have to enjoy the journey."