The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour’s doubles circuit will not be the same next season as one of its most successful stars, Paola Suarez, has announced that she is retiring.
Suarez, whose longtime doubles partnership with Virginia Ruano Pascual led to eight Grand Slam titles, played her last Tour match on Saturday in the mixed doubles with Kevin Ullyett at the US Open. The pair lost to Liezel Huber and Jamie Murray 7-5, 6-4.
Her decision to hang up her racquet permanently was not a rash one, rather something that she had been considering for months after dealing with chronic injuries.
“I was supposed to retire after Wimbledon,” said Suarez in a WTA Tour news article. “But I didn’t tell anyone, and then I thought that wasn’t a good idea for the fans and those who follow my career. So, I started practicing again for the US Open. Then I told the press I’d be retiring!”
Not only was Suarez ranked No. 1 in doubles, but she reached a career high in singles of No.9 on June 7, 2004.
Her impressive resume of doubles titles includes one Australian Open (2004), three US Opens (2002, 2003, 2004), four Roland Garros titles (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005), and one Sony Ericsson Championships title (2003). All these were won with Virginia Ruano Pascual.
