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Agnieszka Radwanska: Retirement decision is final

Cape Town - Former Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska says there is no chance she will reverse her decision to retire from tennis at the age of 29.

The Pole shocked everyone by announcing her retirement from the sport last month due to injury.

Radwanska has been troubled by a foot problem in recent months that has restricted her movement, prompting her to make the decision to call it a day.

"Life has taught me 'never say never' but for me this is the end," she told Polish newspaper Przeglad Sportowy. "I arrived at an obstacle which I could no longer get through. I now need a minimum year or two in order to recover and rest."

Radwanska said she didn't take the decision lightly, and only decided upon the course of action after a series of discussions with medical professionals.

"I thought about this for a very long time. Believe me, this is not a rashly made decision. I have been battling with my thoughts for weeks. I was looking in every direction. I was in consultations with doctors, physios and we analysed my current health situation with my entire team," she said.

"Following these consultations I came to a conclusion that rebuilding everything in half a year on the grass made no sense."

At her peak, Radwanska was ranked second in the world. She won 20 WTA titles, and notably reached the final of Wimbledon in 2012, losing to Serena Williams.

She was the first Polish player ever to reach a grand slam final in the Open Era and the first to earn more than $1 million in prize money.

Radwanska sees a bright future for women's tennis, which she reckons is more competitive and exciting now than it has ever been.

"Women's tennis has drastically changed. Intensity in every aspect of the game in incomparable to what I remember 10/12 years ago," she added.

"The world has moved in a direction where even for the smallest of tournaments I had to go there 100 percent ready. Easy games in first rounds have finished."

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