Tennis

Alizé Cornet, the French tennis star, has announced her retirement from the sport after the upcoming Roland Garros tournament. The 34-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable career, spanning over two decades, and holds the Open Era record for most consecutive Grand Slam tournaments played with 68.Cornet's longevity is a testament to her unwavering determination and resilience. She made her Grand Slam main-draw debut at the age of 15 in Paris in 2005 and has not missed a major main draw since the 2007 Australian Open. This remarkable streak has earned her the respect and admiration of her peers and fans alike.Throughout her career, Cornet has achieved notable success, including six WTA singles titles. She famously defeated Serena Williams three times in 2014, all while the American was ranked No. 1 in the world. In 2022, she ended Iga Swiatek's 37-match winning streak, the longest this century, in the third round of Wimbledon. In total, Cornet boasts an impressive 25 career wins against Top 10 players.Beyond her singles achievements, Cornet has also made significant contributions to French tennis. She has represented her country in four Olympic Games and played on France's Billie Jean King Cup team for 14 years. Her dedication and passion for the sport have inspired countless young players.Cornet's retirement marks the end of an era in French tennis. She has been a role model for aspiring athletes and a source of pride for her country. Her legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of tennis players.

Garbiñe Muguruza, the former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion, has bid farewell to tennis at the age of 30. The Spanish star announced her retirement at a press conference in Madrid on Saturday, marking the end of an illustrious career that spanned over a decade.Muguruza's journey began as a teenager in 2012, when she made a remarkable run to the fourth round of the Miami Open as a wild card. Two years later, she claimed her maiden tour-level title, followed by a stunning run to the Wimbledon final in 2015, where she fell to Serena Williams.However, Muguruza's breakthrough came in 2016 when she triumphed at Roland Garros, defeating Serena Williams in the final. The following year, she added the Wimbledon title to her resume, becoming the first Spanish woman to win the prestigious tournament since Conchita Martinez in 1994.After a brief dip in form, Muguruza regained her momentum in 2020, reaching the Australian Open final. In 2021, she capped her career with a victory at the WTA Finals in Guadalajara, becoming the first Spaniard to win the year-end championships in singles.Throughout her career, Muguruza won 10 WTA singles titles, including two Grand Slams, and ranked as the world No. 1 for four weeks in 2017. She also represented Spain in the Olympics and the Fed Cup, contributing to her country's success in international competitions.Muguruza's retirement marks the end of an era for Spanish tennis. She leaves behind a legacy as one of the most successful female players in her country's history, inspiring a generation of young athletes.

Ashleigh Barty, the former world No. 1 tennis player, has been delighting fans with adorable sightings of her nine-month-old son, Hayden. Despite her retirement from the WTA Tour, Barty remains a beloved figure in the tennis world.On Saturday, Barty brought Hayden to watch Australia's Billie Jean King Cup team defeat Mexico in Brisbane. The mother-son duo was spotted in a box with Barty's former doubles partner and close friend Casey Dellacqua. Hayden's ginger hair has grown significantly since his appearance at the Brisbane International tournament in January.Barty's personal history with the Billie Jean King Cup ended dramatically in 2019. France staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Australia 3-2 in Perth. Barty had hoped to cap off her extraordinary year, which included victories at the French Open and WTA Finals, by leading Australia to victory. However, she fell short in a third-set tiebreak to Kristina Mladenovic, and Mladenovic and Garcia went on to defeat Barty and Sam Stosur in the deciding doubles rubber.Barty shed tears on the podium after Australia's Cup drought, which dates back to 1974, continued. It remains one of the few unfulfilled goals in her illustrious career, which ended abruptly in 2022 at the age of 25.Hayden will undoubtedly learn about his mother's tennis achievements in the future. Barty has been publishing children's books in retirement, including a series about a young athlete named Little Ash and a new release in March titled "My Dream for You."

Steve Johnson, the former NCAA's greatest men's player, has bid farewell to professional tennis at the Indian Wells tournament, where his journey began. After falling in the singles qualifying round, Johnson played his final doubles match with Tommy Paul, losing to Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic.Johnson's decision to retire at Indian Wells was a sentimental one. "This was always home and it's where I wanted to kind of end," he said. "I'm very lucky, not everyone gets that opportunity to do it on their terms."Johnson's career was marked by his unwavering competitive spirit. "I'm most proud of the way I was a competitor," he said. "Never felt like I cheated the game of tennis. Never felt like I left anything up to question."Johnson's collegiate career at the University of Southern California was remarkable, culminating in a 72-match win streak. As a professional, he reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 21 and won four ATP titles, including two on grass and consecutive Houston trophies. He also captured a bronze medal in men's doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics with Jack Sock.At 34, Johnson realized it was time to move on. "The tennis started to feel more like a job and a chore than the enjoyment and fun that I had," he said. "But the competing still is fun. I love to go out there and compete with whoever it is. That will never get old."Johnson's legacy extends beyond his on-court achievements. He is remembered for his unwavering determination and sportsmanship. "I hope when competitors were going over their game plan to play me, their coach would have said, 'from first ball to last ball, he's gonna fight you for it,'" he said.As Johnson embarks on a new chapter, he is excited to spend more time with his family. "For now, I'm going to take some time off," he said. "Switch it up, do a lot more pick ups, drop offs at school. Maybe some more play dates in our future."