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Reports claim that Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama is planning to retire from tennis after this season. The Japanese veteran has slipped down in the rankings after her poor performance in the court.
The former eighth-seed singles and top seed doubles player, after her elimination in the US Open first round, has said that she will most likely not play in the next season.
The 34-year-old Sugiyama made her debut in professional tennis in 1992.She has to her credit 62 Grand Slam appearances. NHK has revealed that Sugiyama will make her final competitive appearance at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Japan later this month.
Sugiyama said, “Every year, every season, there are times when I can see myself playing in the following season ... I take breaks during the off-season and get going after that.”
"I go through different psychological states and then see clear visions for my near future. But right now, to be honest, I cannot see the next season for myself."
Sugiyama has won three doubles titles in Grand Slam events and has been a singles quarter-finalist in the 2000 Australian Open and the 2004 Wimbledon.
Sugiyama with her doubles partner Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia made it into the finals at the Australian Open in January, but were defeated by Williams sisters.
