Guillermo Coria retires aged 27

[Mr. Anderson]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...253890,00.html

Former French Open finalist Guillermo Coria has retired from tennis aged just 27 years old.

The Argentine, who peaked at number three in the world in 2004, has won nine titles during his career including in his home town of Buenos Aires. But he has hardly played since 2006 and took part in his last tournament in March at a challenger in Bangkok, his first event in eight months, where he lost in the first round.

"I didn't feel like competing anymore," Coria said. "I've made the decision I will not play again. In 2005 I began to feel less and less like competing. My passion just wasn't the same and it's impossible to do things well when it's like that. In this sport, you have to be at 100 percent. I'm very happy with the decision I've taken. I have new projects and I will be able to spend more time with my family."

Coria reached the final at Roland Garros in 2004 having lost only once on clay in the preceding year.

But he blew a two-set lead and missed two match points before going down to his fellow Argentine Gaston Gaudio in five sets. Later that year he underwent surgery on his right shoulder and he played less and less thereafter.

Quite sad to read that. It's obviously a case of the injury a few years ago and not being able to come back to full fitness and form finally taking its toll. But the manner in which he lost the final of the French where he began cramping while running away with the match must be a factor too in what he describes as losing his competitive streak. Having that as the last memory of a time where he was at the height of the game must be deflating.