Mauresmo hangs up her racquet

It was getting tough mentally

“I came here to announce the end of my career. I made this decision after careful consideration,” the 30-year-old Frenchwoman told a news conference before bursting into tears.

“It was becoming tough mentally. What happened is I simply did not want to go training any more. My tennis life lasted 25 years, there were extraordinary things and tough moments.”

One of Mauresmo's toughest moments came in 1999, when she came out as a lesbian.

Mauresmo first topped the rankings in September 2004 and clinched her two grand slam titles in 2006 when she won the Australian Open and Wimbledon. She collected 25 WTA Tour singles crowns and won the Fed Cup with France in 2003.  “I had three main goals in my career, becoming world number one, claiming a grand slam title and a Fed Cup. I achieved all of them,” said Mauresmo.

“When I look back I have no regret and great pride.”

However, Mauresmo never made it past the quarter-finals at the her home grand slam, the French Open, despite starting the tournament as favourite several times.

Mauresmo is the most successful French female player since Suzanne Lenglen in the 1910s and 1920s.