Laura Robson, the British tennis player who won junior Wimbledon at the age of 14 and an Olympic silver medal at the age of 18, has announced her retirement.
The 28-year-old moved to number 27 in the world rankings after reaching the fourth round of the Wimbledon and US Open tournaments.
Injury intervened, and she had wrist surgery in 2014, as well as three hip operations in recent years.
“I went through every possibility of rehab and of surgery,” Robson told BBC Sport.
“I had another hip surgery and probably did the best rehab block of my life – I went to all the best specialists and had some incredible people that I was working with just to get me back on court – and then the second time I hit, I just knew.
“It feels weird to say out loud, but I’m done, I’m retired.
“I’ve sort of known that for a while because of what I was told by the doctors last year, but I think it just took me so long to say it to myself, which is why it took me so long to say it officially.”
The LTA’s former chief medical officer Dr Jo Larkin and Rob Hill, who worked as a senior physiotherapist for many years, were a constant support for Robson and were with her when the doctors delivered the news she had been expecting.
“We just sat down and cried together, but I know they are going to be in my life forever,” she said.
Robson was named WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2012 as she beat Grand Slam champions Kim Clijsters and Li Na in a run to the fourth round of the US Open.
She also reached her only WTA final in Guangzhou that September (she was the first Briton to play in a WTA final for 22 years), and in early August partnered Andy Murray to a silver medal in the mixed doubles of the London Olympics.
It was so nearly gold, but Victoria Azarenka and Max Myrni won the deciding tie-break 10-8 on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.
