Former Roland Garros champion announces retirement
Former top 20 singles player and Roland Garros doubles champion Pablo Cuevas has announced his retirement, with the Uruguayan revealing that his 20-year professional career ‘surpassed dreams’.
Cuevas has only played two matches this year, using his protected ranking to enter both Australian Open and most recently US Open qualifying.
The final match of his career came in the first round of qualifying in New York, with Cuevas losing in straight sets to Frenchman Luca Van Assche.
And now the Uruguayan has taken to Instagram to announce his retirement from the sport with a lengthy statement.
“This journey began with a dream… with the innocence of a boy who wanted to be a tennis player,” said Cuevas. “From kayaking on the Uruguay River to [Court] Philippe Chatrier, so many lived experiences.. reality surpassed dreams.
“Tennis has been more than a sport; it has been my passion, my daily motivation, and the reason I woke up every morning with the desire to be better.”
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Cuevas won six singles titles, enabling him to reach a career-high ranking of World No.19 back in 2016.
He also found success on the doubles court, with Cuevas’ greatest triumph coming at Roland Garros in 2008 when he won the title alongside Peruvian Luis Horna.
The 38-year-old continued his Instagram post relaying the ups and downs of his career, and speaking about the honour of competing against the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
“In the middle, I go through it all.. from spectacular results to storms in which time seemed to move slower and uncertainty was total,” detailed Cuevas. “Sport, like life, surprises you, and often you have to choose with more doubts than certainty. But what I never doubted is how fortunate I was in this 20+ year career.”
Cuevas continued, “How many trips and places, how many people I met off the court, and what tremendous players inside. Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, to name a few, this was a wonderful era. Everything I learned and the happiness with which I went through this path, week after week, assembling and disarming the bag, tournament after tournament, always with the illusion intact.”
The statement concluded with Cuevas thanking his family and friends who have helped support his career, as he looks to move into the next chapter of his life.
THE Human Highlight Reel 🔥
One of the most skilful players to ever play!@PabloCuevas22 pic.twitter.com/ymbmn6YnKC
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) September 24, 2024
Inside the baseline…
Pablo Cuevas has not really been a factor on the ATP Tour for a few years now, but what a career he has had as the highest ranked player in Uruguayan tennis history. Cuevas often fared on the wrong side of results against top players, but despite this he did get victories over the likes of Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick and Stan Wawrinka. What also cannot be forgotten is Cuevas’ trademark trick shots that brought crowds to their feets on numerous occasions over the years!
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