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Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Former world number two Agnieszka Radwanska announces retirement

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Singapore WTA Finals Round Robin Singles - Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore - 28/10/2016 - Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland celebrates after defeating Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska said on Wednesday that she has decided to end her 13 year-long career due to health reasons.

The former world number two was the first Polish player to reach a Grand Slam singles final in the Open Era, when she finished runner-up to Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2012.

The 29-year-old, who finished with 20 WTA titles, was one of the most consistent players on tour, finishing in top 10 rankings for six straight seasons between 2011-2016.

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - China Open women's final - Beijing, China - 09/10/16. Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska holds the trophy after defeating Britain's Johanna Konta. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo

However, she has struggled for form and fitness over the recent campaign and has not lifted a title since October 2016.

"Unfortunately I am no longer able to train and play the way I used to, and recently my body can't live up to my expectations," Radwanska, 29, said in a post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AgnieszkaRadwanska1/posts/2012997738738277?__tn__=K-R.

"Taking into consideration my health and the heavy burdens of professional tennis, I have to concede that I'm not able to push my body to the limits required."

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - WTA Premier & ATP 250 - Nature Valley International - Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, Britain - June 28, 2018 Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska in action during her quarter final match against Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo

In addition to her Wimbledon final appearance, Radwanska reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open twice, and won the season-ending WTA Finals in 2015.

"I'm hanging the racquet up and say goodbye to the pro tour, but I'm not leaving tennis," she added.

"Tennis is and always has been special in my life. But now it's time for new challenges, new ideas, equally as exciting as those on the tennis court, I hope."

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Wimbledon - London, Britain - July 10, 2017 Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska in action during her fourth round match against Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova REUTERS/Tony O'Brien/File Photo

(Reporting by Marcin Goclowski and Hardik Vyas; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

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