Former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic "announced her retirement from tennis Wednesday, citing health setbacks as the main reason," according to Matt Wilansky of ESPNW.com. Ivanovic "won her lone Grand Slam title" at the '08 French Open and "spent a total of 12 weeks atop the WTA ranking that season." Ivanovic said that she is "now going to embark on fashion and beauty endeavors" (ESPNW.com, 12/28). BLEACHER REPORT's Gianni Verschueren reported Ivanovic claims she "won't disappear from the sport completely," as she could have a "future in the media or coaching." Meanwhile, her husband, Manchester United MF Bastian Schweinsteiger, is "strongly linked with a move to MLS, so the couple could be heading for the USA shortly" (BLEACHERREPORT.com, 12/28). FOXSPORTS.com's Chris Chase wrote the sport of tennis "will miss Ivanovic more than you’d think for a player of her resume and stature." She was "always a big draw with fans and endorsers." In addition, Ivanovic "was on the cusp of having crossover potential" in the U.S. She posed for the SI swimsuit issue in '10 "wrapped in a tennis net" (FOXSPORTS.com, 12/28). ESPNW.com's Melissa Isaacson writes Ivanovic "easily built a fan base" with her "signature forehand, flawless beauty and one of the most open and gracious personalities in the game." Still, she is "likely to be lost in an era that has been dominated" by Serena Williams (ESPNW.com, 12/28). View Ivanovic's retirement announcement video from Facebook Live and the statement posted on her Twitter feed.
