Australia's Samantha Stosur will say farewell to professional tennis in the coming days at her home Grand Slam event. The 38-year-old former US Open singles and doubles champion confirmed that she'll retire from the sport after competing at the Australian Open for a 21st and final time.
Stosur played her last career singles match at Melbourne Park in 2021, but continued to play doubles throughout last year. She'll compete in both women's and mixed doubles at Melbourne Park with Alizé Cornet and Matthew Ebden, respectively, in her final tournament.
"I’m so excited to be back at Melbourne Park playing in my 21st Australian Open, but it’s with mixed feelings that I also share with you that this will be my last tournament," Stosur wrote. "I feel so happy and grateful to have the opportunity to finish playing at my favourite slam – my home slam – in front of my Aussie fans, friends and family."
Stosur won eight Grand Slams between singles and doubles, and 37 career WTA titles between the two disciplines in more than 20 years as a pro. She played her first professional tournament at age 15 in 1999, and the future US Open champion debuted in New York in 2003.
She's a former singles world No. 4 and doubles world No. 1. She reached the top spot in doubles in 2006, and held the top ranking for 61 consecutive weeks. She and Lisa Raymond won the 2005 US Open women's doubles title, and she partnered with Zhang Shuai to win another in New York in 2021.
But her most famous US Open triumph came in 2011, when she stormed through the draw and toppled Serena Williams in the final to become the first Australian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title since Evonne Goolagong won Wimbledon in 1980. She also beat former US Open finalists Elena Dementieva and Vera Zvonareva, as well as future US Open winner Angelique Kerber, that year.
"Even though I’ve made the decision to retire from the sport I absolutely love, a small part of me would be happy to keep playing forever," she wrote. "I know I’m going to miss playing competitive tennis, all the amazing experiences and emotions that come with being on the tour, and doing what I’ve done for nearly my whole life.
"There are so many stand-out matches, some against legends of the sport, that make me look back and think how grateful I am for my career.
"I’m looking forward to getting on the court one last time in front of my amazing fans, who are the reason I go out there and play the sport I love and enjoying this wonderful ride one last time."
The Australian Open begins on Jan. 16.