Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama says she is likely to retire at the end of this tennis season.
Sugiyama, 34, has indicated the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo later this month will likely be her last in a 17-year career in which her singles ranking rose to a high of No. 8.
“I am normally the type that can picture what the near future holds but to be honest at this moment in time I can’t see myself competing net season,” Sugiyama was quoted as saying by Kyodo news.
“I knew that the moment I realised I could play well in fits and starts but not over the course of a season then it would be time to retire. Now I would like to give something back to tennis.”
Sugiyama won six WTA tour singles titles plus doubles titles at all the Grand Slam events except the Australian Open, where she reached the final this year.
