‘I just ran out of steam’ explains Johanna Konta on retirement
Johanna Konta has retired from tennis at the age of 30, citing the fact that she has lost the energy to compete at the highest level.
The former world number four made the announcement on Twitter after struggling with injury in recent years, as well as dealing with heart palpitations.
“I’m so incredibly grateful for the career that it turned out to be,” her statement read.
The british star has further explained her reasons behind retiring at the relatively young age of 30.
“I wanted to sit with my feelings and emotions and give myself time in coming to the decision,” Konta told WTA Insider.
“That process has also given me some peace with it because by no means does my retiring mean that I don’t like the sport anymore or that I can’t see myself play anymore.
“Even sitting here, I miss playing. I miss that life because it’s the only life I’ve known since I have memory.
“So it’s interesting detangling yourself from something that you’ve just been attached to for so long.”
“For me, it’s just about putting my emotional, mental, physical well-being in the position to put that energy and work in to be able to do that.”
This year, Konta added a fourth WTA title to her career collection at the Viking Open Nottingham.
But a positive Covid result forced her to miss Wimbledon, and she has played just 18 matches in 2021.
Her most prestigious title came at the 2017 Miami Open, and achieved a career best Slam result of reaching the semi-finals three times at three different Slams.
Those came at the Australian Open in 2016, French Open 2019 and Wimbledon 2017.
She expanded further on the mentality necessary to be a top player, and that she simply does not have that mindset anymore.
“It’s that link of being able to convince yourself to be in pain,” Konta explained. “I just ran out of steam for it.
“So when you get to that point, you can’t put your best self on display because you haven’t put in the work for it and you just don’t have the energy to put in the work for it.”
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