Friday 12 September 2014 16:24, UK
British doubles specialist Ross Hutchins has announced his retirement from tennis at the age of 29.
After recovering from Hodgkin's Iymphoma in 2013, the 29-year-old most recently reached the mixed doubles semi-finals of the US Open.
It is with a heavy heart that today I announce my retirement from professional tennis. After much deliberation I feel it is the right time for me to stop playing professional sport and pursue new goals as I enter the next phase of my career. I feel strong and healthy and I look forward to moving onto the next chapter of my life.
Hutchins, who was born in Wimbledon, won five ATP doubles titles, the silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games with Ken Skupski, and he was a regular in Britain's Davis Cup squad.
Hutchins told the LTA website: "It is with a heavy heart that today I announce my retirement from professional tennis. After much deliberation I feel it is the right time for me to stop playing professional sport and pursue new goals as I enter the next phase of my career. I feel strong and healthy and I look forward to moving onto the next chapter of my life.
''I have been incredibly fortunate in my tennis career and I am proud of what I have been able to achieve, a lot of which would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of those close to me.
"Tennis has enabled me to do something which I love every day, to travel the world and along the way form some incredible friendships.
''I’d like to thank everyone who has played a role in my career to date and for all the support and encouragement that they have given me, especially my family, my fiancé Lindsay, my friends and my doubles partner Colin Fleming, who I have thoroughly enjoyed playing beside and who has stuck by me through good and tough times.
"I would also like to thank the LTA, ITF and ATP who have looked after me all the years that I have been on Tour. Lastly my special thanks to the tennis fans and community who have given me strength on so many occasions and will always have a special place in my heart.
"It is without doubt that I will miss the competitiveness of the sport but I am excited about the challenges that lie ahead and I shall now take my time to decide on exactly what they will be."
Britain’s Davis Cup captain Leon Smith said: "On behalf of everybody within British tennis, we send our huge congratulations to Ross as he brings the curtain down on his tennis career.
"Ross has been a stalwart of our sport for over a decade, having won five ATP doubles tournaments and competed in seven Davis Cup ties.
"He has been an incredible role model in every way possible, from the way he trained to the way he looked after himself in order to reach his potential.
"We were very lucky to have him play a huge part in our Davis Cup team over the last six years, and his contribution to help us fight our way back to the World Group was invaluable.
"Even in the face of adversity following his diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma, Ross's amazing dedication and spirit helped to not only raise a staggering amount of money for charity, but also propel him back to professional tennis which itself was an unbelievable achievement.
"It goes without saying that we wish him all the very best for life beyond the court. No doubt there are very exciting times ahead."
